A group of Cubans gathered this Saturday in South Florida to show their support for the protests that have spread across various areas of Cuba amid the worsening economic crisis, extended blackout periods, and shortages of food and basic products.
Local 10 News reported that protesters gathered in Miami, outside the Versailles Restaurant, to express solidarity with those on the island who have taken to the streets to demand freedom and improvements in their living conditions, including electricity, water, and food, which are becoming increasingly difficult for the population to obtain.
Many of the attendees stated that they had followed recent protest videos online from various Cuban cities and emphasized the risks taken by those who demonstrate against the regime.
“I am proud of my people, I am proud of the Cubans who took to the streets,” said Jeorgina Lima, who noted that protesting on the island entails a real danger due to the repression against those who oppose the government.
Support for the Cubans on the island began on Friday night in Miami. The organizer of the demonstration, Ramón Saúl Sánchez, called for support from the exile community. "If Cuba is in the streets, we are too," he stated.
The protests in Cuba have spread to nearly all provinces. In the early hours of Sunday, residents of the Micro 9 neighborhood in the José Martí district of Santiago de Cuba took to the streets during an extended blackout, shouting "Down with the dictatorship!" and "Freedom!".
The repressive forces responded with patrols, police vans, and State Security agents, and several arrests were reported.
On Friday night, in Morón, Ciego de Ávila, the protesters stormed the municipal headquarters of the Communist Party, set furniture on fire, and clashed with the police.
Díaz-Canel responded with a warning directed at all Cubans: "There will be no impunity for vandalism."
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