Thousands of Cubans took to the streets of multiple provinces around the Caribbean island this Sunday in an unusual protest in which civilians shouted slogans against the communist regime such as "We want freedom" and "We are no longer afraid."
The demonstrations come at a time when Cuba is facing the worst economic crisis since the fall of the USSR, an
increase in repression against political opponents and a collapse of the health system
amid the most critical stage of the COVID-pandemic. 19: this Sunday the health authorities reported almost 7,000 new cases and 47 deaths (a new record of infections and deaths) on the island of just over 11 million inhabitants.
The protests began in the early afternoon in the municipality of San Antonio de los Baños, in the Artemisa province, adjacent to Havana.
A few hours later they had spread to the east of the country, in provinces such as Santiago de Cuba.
The central Malecón of the capital, where in August 1994 the Cubans staged a historic protest against former leader Fidel Castro that was violently repressed, has also seen hundreds of demonstrators gathered this Sunday.
[A Cuban minister physically assaults protesters who asked for freedom of expression in Havana]
Cubans in several provinces contacted by Noticias Telemundo confirmed that the regime, which controls the only internet provider company on the island, has caused service outages to prevent live broadcasts.
"They do not want the world to see what is happening in Cuba," said a resident from Havana who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisals from the regime.
The island's ruler, Miguel Díaz-Canel, appeared on national television to call on the Army to confront the protesters: "The order to fight has been given," he said.
Videos broadcast on social networks, which could be verified by Noticias Telemundo, show
special agents known in Cuba as Black Berets, being deployed in some localities and violently detaining
civilians who protested and sang peacefully.
News in development ...