A woman staged an anti-government protest on Monday on the central Enramadas street in Santiago de Cuba, where she began shouting slogans like "Down with communism!" while waiting in line for pensioners' payment.
The incident occurred in broad daylight, coinciding with the anniversary of Fidel Castro's death, which led regime supporters to respond with shouts of "Long live Fidel!" while the protester continued her solitary demonstration, reported journalist Yosmany Mayeta on his Facebook profile.
Minutes later, uniformed officers arrived at the scene and took the woman to the Second Police Unit, known as "El Palacete," as confirmed to the journalist by the individual who recorded the incident.
Witnesses commented that the woman might have psychiatric issues and that she reportedly returned from a mission in Venezuela with this disorder.
"I find it very striking that some of the people who go on the so-called 'missions' return to Cuba with psychiatric disorders," Mayeta reflected.
The incident reflects the growing discontent among segments of the population, where such spontaneous protests have become a way to express rejection of the regime.
For some, these protests are a reflection of the psychological impact that the economic and social crisis has on citizens.
At the beginning of the month, the city of Camagüey woke up to a protest message on Cristo Street, between Santa Catalina and Bembeta, where the phrase “Down with communism” was painted, a strong expression of discontent towards the Cuban regime and its leaders.
According to a Facebook post from the profile "ElMatero Cubano Uy," the message was written in the early hours of the morning, right in front of Santa Catalina street, and the user joked about it being part of the series "Pinta tu pedacito."
Also in November, dozens of Cubans living in areas of the Boyeros municipality in Havana, after being without electricity and water for a week, blocked traffic on Rancho Boyeros Avenue and the 100 bridge in protest of the prolonged interruption of these basic services.
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