Cuba experienced a new wave of protests and pot-banging during the night of December 8 to 9 amidst widespread blackouts and growing social despair. Residents from Marianao, Regla, Alamar, Santos Suárez, San Miguel del Padrón, La Lisa and even from the University of Camagüey took to the streets, banging pots, lighting fires, and chanting slogans demanding light, food, and freedom.
The outbreak was documented by videos shared on social media, including one circulated by the dissenting rapper El Funky, who showed dozens of residents from Marianao blocking streets with pots and debris while demanding the restoration of electricity service. At the end of the video, the residents celebrate with cheers and applause when the electricity returns, a scene that reflects both the precariousness and the spirit of resistance that is felt in the country.
"The people of Marianao know what to do when the power goes out.", wrote El Funky alongside the video posted on his social media.
In another message, he added: "Marianao is on fire. Come on, Cubans."
“The night is heating up. There are confirmed pot-banging protests and other forms of protest in several locations across the country,” warned independent journalist José Raúl Gallego on his Facebook account, who is monitoring the citizens' demonstrations on the island from Mexico.
The wave of protests occurs amid the worst economic, energy, and social crisis in recent decades. The Cuban Observatory of Conflicts (OCC) reported in November a historic record of 1,326 protests across Cuba, characterized by demands for electricity, food, and civil liberties. The lack of fuel, prolonged blackouts, and runaway inflation have turned everyday life into a nightmare for millions of Cubans.
Despite the official silence, citizen sources and videos on social media show a sustained increase in popular discontent. The night protests —such as those reported in Marianao and other municipalities in Havana— have become a pressure relief valve against the repression and censorship of the regime. So far, there have been no reports of arrests, although several activists warned that the political police deployed forces in conflictive neighborhoods during the early morning hours.
El Funky, one of the most prominent artists of the Cuban countercultural movement, has once again become a voice and witness of popular indignation. His posts reflect the growing spirit of resistance among Cubans and demonstrate how the people continue to raise their voices despite fear and darkness.
"People can’t take it anymore," wrote a user from Havana. "We went out to protest because there is no electricity, no food, no future."
The protests in December add to the long list of civic demonstrations in 2025, a year marked by the collapse of the energy system, chronic shortages, and political repression against those who dare to demand basic rights. While Raúl Castro and Miguel Díaz-Canel maintain control over power and the repressive apparatus, the Cuban people continue to express their discontent in the streets, with pots, candles, and fire.
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