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The Republican congressman from Florida Carlos A. Giménez publicly expressed his support for the Cubans who took to the streets to protest in the municipality of Morón, a popular demonstration characterized by pot-banging, calls for freedom, and denunciations regarding the crisis facing the Island.
Through a post on X, the legislator responded to the videos and reports that circulated on social media during the night of the protests.
"SOS Cuba! We fully support the people of Morón who are in the streets demanding their rights! Enough already of the dictatorship that tramples on Cubans!" wrote Giménez in his message.
The congressman’s remarks add to the wave of reactions sparked by the protests occurring in that city in central Cuba, where dozens of people gathered to express their dissatisfaction with prolonged power outages, food shortages, and the difficult economic situation.
Videos shared on social media show groups of citizens walking through various streets of the city at night while repeatedly chanting "Freedom!" and banging pots and metal objects in protest.
In one of the recordings, a narrator invites other neighbors to join the demonstration while broadcasting live from his mobile phone.
“Let’s go my people, share this live broadcast! Morón and Ciego de Ávila out on the streets demanding freedom,” was heard saying.
The images also showed how the march progressed through various locations in the municipality as participants called on other residents to join the mobilization.
“The people are tired of going hungry, struggling, in need, without electricity… It’s over!” stated a person as they continued the march.
Participants used the flashlights from their mobile phones and motorcycle lights to illuminate the path amidst the darkness caused by power outages.
The slogan "Homeland and Life," which has become a symbol of opposition since the national protests of July 11, 2021, in Cuba, was also chanted by some demonstrators during the mobilization.
A protest marked by tension and violence
The situation in Morón became particularly tense when a group of residents set fire to the municipal headquarters of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) amidst the protests.
According to reports shared by independent journalist Guillermo Rodríguez Sánchez, during the incidents, a police officer allegedly fired his weapon at a young man who was near a lit bonfire in front of the PCC building.
According to that testimony, the shot struck the boy's thigh.
In videos shared on social media, several people can be seen carrying the injured young man out of the area while other neighbors attempted to assist him.
The journalist noted that the shot was fired amid a tense atmosphere when protesters were gathered in front of the headquarters of the ruling party.
Other materials released later showed scenes of the fire that engulfed the building, as well as the moment when protesters removed furniture and political propaganda from inside the headquarters.
According to images shared by journalist Mario J. Pentón, several objects were piled in the middle of the street and burned in a large bonfire while slogans against the regime were heard.
During the disturbances, it was also reported that some bicycles used by police officers were set on fire.
Interrupted internet and reports of repression
The incidents also occurred amid reports of Internet service disruptions in the area, which hindered the flow of real-time information.
Activists and journalists reported that the disruption of connectivity coincided with the spread of images of the unrest and with reports of gunfire.
Journalist José Raúl Gallego also reported that the young man who was injured had received a gunshot wound to the thigh while near the headquarters of the PCC.
According to published reports, special forces deployed in the area allegedly used dogs to disperse the protesters.
The reports also indicate that among the people present at the demonstration were children and teenagers.
So far, there has been no official communication from the Cuban authorities regarding what happened or the health status of the young man who was injured during the incidents.
Blackouts, economic crisis, and social unrest
The discontent reflected in the videos is linked to the deep economic and energy crisis that Cuba is experiencing.
In many areas of the country, power outages exceed 20 hours a day, while issues with food supply persist and inflation has eroded the purchasing power of the population.
That context has caused a growing social unrest that sometimes expresses itself in spontaneous protests, such as the one recorded in Morón.
For decades, whenever citizens have taken to the streets to peacefully protest in Cuba, the demonstrations have ended with police operations, arrests, and acts of violence against the participants.
Many Cubans believe that the discontent accumulated from years of economic crisis, scarcity, and lack of freedoms has been growing over time.
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