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The philosopher and activist Alina Bárbara López Hernández reported on Thursday on the detention of a young Cuban for participating in a casserole protest, while describing the desperate situation of the elderly in Cuba, who are completely abandoned.
"Summer intensifies. The heat is unbearable. While young Cubans are detained or threatened: Leonardo Romero Negrín, imprisoned since yesterday at the Zanja station for participating in a pot-banging protest, Anna Bensi, and the Fuera de caja brothers summoned by the political police; our elders are fainting from lack of food and hope," wrote the activist.
Leonardo Romero Negrín has been detained since Wednesday at the police station on Zanja Street in Havana for participating in a protest involving pots and pans. Cubalex and the Academic Freedom Observatory deemed the arrest arbitrary and identified him as a political prisoner.
The arrest of Romero Negrín was not the only case of repression recorded that day.
The activist Anna Bensi -21 years old and under house arrest since March- and the evangelical pastor Rolando Pérez Lora, known as "Herald of Christ," were held for almost 11 hours at the Alamar Police station. Anna Bensi was released at 8:56 PM amidst applause and tears.
On that same day, the siblings Amanda and Abel Andrés Navarro, from the collective Fuera de la Caja Cuba, were summoned to the police station on Aguilera Street and held for hours.
All detentions exceeded the legal limit of two hours established by Cuban legislation for police interviews.
While the regime deployed its repressive apparatus against activists and youth, López denounced the neglect faced by the most vulnerable, particularly in Matanzas.
"In Matanzas, people are desperate because they have imposed restrictions on the sale of coal. Naturally, this is leading to deforestation, which harms the environment. The price of coal has skyrocketed. But there is no gas, hardly any firewood, and there is no electricity for days. Who is looking out for the people then?" questioned the intellectual.
The paradox is stark: the regime restricts the sale of coal citing environmental harm, yet offers no energy alternative to the population.
The price of coal has surged to between 1,700 and 5,000 Cuban pesos per bag, equivalent to a full monthly salary. Power outages in Matanzas have resulted in consecutive cuts of between 85 and 87 hours, while in Havana they exceed 30 consecutive hours.
The energy crisis that Cuba is experiencing is the most severe in its history. The electrical deficit reached a record 2,208 MW on June 26, with a availability of only 1,065 MW against a demand of 3,200 MW.
In that context of desperation, pot-banging protests have multiplied across the Island. The Cuban Conflict Observatory recorded 1,311 protests in May 2026 alone, the highest monthly figure on record.
The regime's response has been systematic repression: deployment of armed special forces, internet blackouts, and mass detentions, including minors.
López, who is currently under house arrest after being detained on June 18 while heading to a peaceful protest in Matanzas, concluded her post with a warning that many interpreted as a direct reference to the protests of July 11, 2021: "The summer intensifies. And there is nothing worse than indignation in summer. We have already had evidence of that. Life and dignity will always prevail. We are not an exception. Freedom and justice for all Cubans!"
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