A particularly tense moment from the protests that took place last night in Morón, in the province of Ciego de Ávila, was captured in a video showing a young man asking another demonstrator not to burn the Cuban flag during the unrest outside the headquarters of the Communist Party (PCC).
“Don’t burn it, don’t burn it, that represents our freedom!”, is heard in the midst of the chaos, while around there are shouts, chants of “Freedom!” and calls to throw fire into the building.
Next, the young man carrying the national flag, allegedly taken from the PCC premises, climbs up a pole on the sidewalk and begins to wave it amidst the widespread euphoria.
The images are part of a recording that lasts approximately seven minutes, one of many that document some of the most intense moments of the protest that took place on the night of Friday and into the early hours of Saturday, when a group of demonstrators set fire to the local headquarters of the PCC amidst a backdrop of high tension.
During the recording, slogans against the government can also be heard, along with discussions among those present and calls to continue actions against the government building.
The tension in Morón was not limited to the fire in front of the PCC headquarters. Other videos circulated on social media show a group of residents standing directly in front of the municipal police station to shout "Freedom!" in the middle of the street, in an unusual challenge to the authorities.
The images show young men and women protesting with their faces uncovered, banging pots and metal objects in a cacophony, while chanting slogans against the regime.
Among the protesters is even a mother with her young daughter in her arms, taking part in the demonstration outside the police station.
Several police officers and other members of the Ministry of the Interior remained at the station's entrance, observing the scene without intervening or leaving their posts.
For several minutes, the officers remained motionless while the protesters continued shouting "Freedom!" and expressing their discontent directly in front of them.
According to various reports circulated on social media, during the events in Morón, a 16-year-old youth was injured, which, if confirmed, would imply that he is a minor.
Despite the circulation of the video where the gunshot and the injured boy can be heard, spokespersons linked to the Cuban official apparatus have denied it.
The Facebook profile of Carlos Pérez stated that the young man featured in the reports "led the chaos" and that he actually injured himself while falling as he tried to tear down the Party's banner.
The same narrative was echoed by the official journalist Francisnet Díaz Rondón, who stated that “there were no injuries from gunfire” and that the shots were fired only “into the air to disperse the uprising.”
The official newspaper Vanguardia also stated on the social network X that there were no protesters shot and that the young man was injured after a fall.
However, the images circulated from the scene show a shirtless, thin young man being urgently transported by several protesters, which has raised doubts on social media about the account provided by government-affiliated media.
The protests in Morón occurred amid a growing social unrest on the island, marked by prolonged blackouts, food shortages, and the deterioration of living conditions.
During the day, there were also reports of the internet service being cut and several bicycles used by police officers being set on fire.
Videos on social media also show residents marching through various areas of the city while banging pots and shouting slogans of "Freedom!".
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