An unusual and tense scene recently took place in the municipality of San Miguel del Padrón, in Havana, when a group of neighbors decided to take matters into their own hands and capture a suspected thief known in the neighborhood for repeated robberies.
The moment was recorded and shared on social media, provoking a wave of comments, outrage, and reflections on the current state of the country.
In the short but widely circulated video, a young woman is seen walking while being pulled by her hair and tied at the waist with what appears to be a rope or an electrical cable.
Around him, several neighbors watch with a mix of reproach and curiosity, wondering what had happened.
According to one of the witnesses, the young woman had stolen 7,000 pesos and had committed other misdeeds in the neighborhood, which triggered the collective reaction.
Popular justice or social desperation?
While many praised the neighbors' action as an act of self-defense, there were also those who criticized the violence, public humiliation, and the lack of intervention from the authorities.
This is not an isolated case: in recent years, it has become common to see videos of Cuban citizens taking justice into their own hands due to the ineffectiveness - or absence - of police intervention.
The comments on social media reflect a general sense of discontent. For some, the real issue lies in the abandonment of young people and the lack of opportunities
"Everyone knows who is to blame for the youth only engaging in bad activities... they have no means of entertainment or motivation."
Others lament that the situation has spiraled out of control: “This is already out of control and I don't believe in the revolution because it has never given me anything.”
There are also calls for a deeper transformation: "There is something called dignity, honor, patriotism... and that has been stifled in that people for years."
In contrast, others directly hold the family of the young detainee responsible: “Her relatives are to blame; they should get to work.”
Crime, drugs, and frustration: a dangerous cocktail
The consumption of drugs, especially the so-called "chemical," is another significant concern looming over neighborhoods like San Miguel del Padrón.
Comments such as "that San Miguel is full of sellers" or "the Chemical is destroying everything" were common and indicate that the social and moral decline in these areas is directly linked to the trafficking and use of these substances.
The ethical debate: Who is to blame?
While there is consensus that theft is unjustifiable, there are also opposing views on how to proceed in these cases.
Some demand that criminals be publicly exposed: "Everyone is experiencing countless hardships in Cuba, but the faces should be made public."
Others denounce the classism and racism that underlie some comments:
"They are people who need help… today they live in complete poverty. For drug dealers and thieves, the maximum penalty. But no one cares."
A painful reflection of the country
This event, which for some was justice and for others an unlawful lynching, highlights the critical state of Cuban society. Poverty, institutional neglect, and the erosion of values have turned some neighborhoods into battlegrounds between survival and despair.
As one user stated: "This is what we have become."
San Miguel del Padrón, like many other corners of Cuba, reveals itself not only as the setting of a minor crime but as a symbol of a country torn between necessity and the emptiness of a system that no longer protects or provides.
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