The Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel said this Saturday that the demands are legitimate as long as they are made with "civility" after the protest in Morón early in the morning.
“It is understandable the discomfort that prolonged blackouts cause our people, as a result of the energy blockade by the U.S., which has cruelly intensified in recent months,” wrote the leader on X, blaming the U.S., as is customary in the regime's propaganda, for the situation in Cuba.
"And the complaints and demands are legitimate, as long as they are made with civility and respect for public order. What will never be understandable, justifiable, or acceptable is the violence and vandalism that threaten public peace and the security of our institutions," he added.
Díaz-Canel concluded with this warning to the protesters: "There will be no impunity for vandalism and violence."
Díaz-Canel's threats come just hours after a night of heightened tensions in Morón, where numerous videos circulated on social media showing groups of residents walking through the streets, chanting slogans against the government and banging pots and pans.
During the protests, there were also confrontations outside the municipal headquarters of the Party, where a fire broke out in the street and damage to the building was reported.
One of the most striking moments of the protest was captured in a video widely shared online, showing the instant when a young man was injured after a gunshot was heard while he was near the PCC building.
In the images, the boy falls to the ground and is helped by several protesters, who lift him up and transport him on a motorcycle to take him to a hospital.
Although various reports on social media claim that the young man was shot by a police officer—and some even suggest that he might be a minor—official media have denied that shots were fired at protesters and maintain that the young man injured himself in a fall.
The official narrative has also tried to portray what happened as isolated disturbances led by a small group of individuals manipulated from the outside, and state-run media report that five people have been arrested.
Meanwhile, profiles linked to government institutions have circulated videos recorded early in the morning showing empty streets in Morón, accompanied by messages stating that the city is “completely tranquil.”
The protests took place amid growing social unrest on the island, fueled by prolonged blackouts, food shortages, and the deterioration of living conditions.
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