A tense situation unfolded on Friday night in the municipality of Morón, in Ciego de Ávila, where residents set fire to the local headquarters of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) amid popular protests and reports of gunfire that reportedly left at least one young person injured.
According to independent journalist Guillermo Rodríguez Sánchez, a police officer allegedly discharged his weapon and hit a young man in the thigh while he was near a campfire in the street, in front of the PCC headquarters.
"The exact moment when, according to witnesses present, a police officer fired his gun and struck a young man in the thigh while he was near a bonfire in the center of the street in front of the PCC of that municipality," the communicator explained while sharing the video of the incident on social media.
In the circulated images, several neighbors can be seen carrying the injured young man away from the scene to provide him with first aid while tensions continue in the surroundings.
Rodríguez Sánchez also shared other videos showing protesters throwing flaming objects at the headquarters of the Communist Party, as well as scenes of the fire that eventually reached the building.
Protesters removed furniture and propaganda from the PCC
According to a video published by journalist Mario J. Pentón, several protesters managed to enter the municipal headquarters of the PCC and removed some of the furniture, as well as paintings and political propaganda materials.
The objects were piled up in the middle of the street and turned into a large bonfire, amid shouts and slogans against the regime.
"The people of Cuba are fed up," commented some residents on social media while describing what happened.
For decades, whenever Cubans have taken to the streets to peacefully protest, these demonstrations have ended with police repression, arrests, and violence against the protesters. Many citizens believe that this constant pressure has been building a deep social unrest.
For many, what happened in Morón reflects the frustration of a segment of the population after years of economic crisis, prolonged blackouts, food shortages, and a lack of freedoms.
Internet outage and gunfire reports
The incidents occurred during an internet service outage in the area, which hindered the circulation of real-time information.
Journalists and activists reported that the interruption of the connection coincided with reports of gunfire and the dissemination of images of the fire near the PCC headquarters.
Residents of the municipality had previously taken to the streets to protest against the prolonged blackouts, food shortages, and the deterioration of living conditions in the country.
Videos shared on social media show people banging pots and pans and shouting “Freedom!” during nighttime marches in various areas of Morón.
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