Cubans protest Communist Party headquarters, shouting "we want freedom!"

Images have arisen on social networks depicting hundreds of Cubans, mostly young men and women, protesting in the streets and chanting for human rights, and demanding freedom to the cry of Patria y Vida (Fatherland and Life) in the municipality of Caimanera, in Guantánamo.

The videos show protesters exercising their right to peaceful protest in front of the Communist Party headquarters.

In an preemptive effort to censor news about the protests, the Cuban military dictatorship interrupted local internet service.

The move was specifically designed to prevent images from being disseminated as a means of inspiring more protests spreading to other parts of the island. There were also reports of power outages multiplied in several cities.

Guantánamo, Cuba 🇨🇺: El pueblo Lo que quiere es Libertad, carajo, vamos!! 💪💪 pic.twitter.com/JdMzQ1GI3l

— Javi🇨🇺 (@JaviXCubaLibre) May 7, 2023

The protests are the result of the very serious social, economic and political crisis that the island has been experiencing for three years.

Caimanera, to the east of the island, has 11,000 inhabitants, and borders the United States Naval Base.

#Cuba #ProtestasEnCaimanera "Ayer desfilaron los obreros, ahora está desfilando el pueblo, verdaderamente el pueblo, el que no está de acuerdo con esto aquí" Lea más👉https://t.co/oXeKQGXl30 pic.twitter.com/SXDBxkU7G6

— 14ymedio (@14ymedio) May 7, 2023