Cuba sees biggest protests for decades as pandemic adds to woes
- Thread starter BeachBum Unreal
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Thousands join rare anti-government protests in Cuba
Demonstrations come as Cuba is experiencing its toughest phase yet of the coronavirus crisis.
People take part in a demonstration against the government of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel in Havana, on July 11 [Yamil Lage/AFP]
11 Jul 2021
Thousands of people have taken to the streets in rare anti-government protests in Cuba, where the coronavirus pandemic and an economic crisis are spurring frustrations, with some demonstrators chanting “down with the dictatorship” and “we want liberty.”
At a protest on Sunday in San Antonio de los Banos, a town of some 50,000 people southwest of Havana, mainly young people shouted insults against President Miguel Diaz-Canel, according to videos posted online.
“We are not afraid,” some said.
“I just walked through town looking to buy some food and there were lots of people there, some with signs, protesting,” local resident Claris Ramirez told the Reuters news agency by phone.
“They are protesting blackouts, that there is no medicine,” she added.
Thousands of people also gathered in downtown Havana and along parts of the seaside drive amid a heavy police presence, while protests took place later in the day in Palma Soriano, Santiago de Cuba.
Police drive near people during protests against and in support of the Cuban government, in Havana on July 11 [Stringer/Reuters]
The demonstrations came as Cuba is experiencing its toughest phase yet of the coronavirus crisis, and the same day it reported a new daily record of infections and deaths.
Social anger has been driven by long food lines and a critical shortage of medicines since the start of the COVID-19 epidemic, with Cuba under United States sanctions.
Diaz-Canel late on Sunday afternoon addressed the nation, accusing the US of being responsible for the unrest.
He warned that further “provocations” would not be tolerated.
Havana-based journalist Ed Augustin said there was a heavy police presence in the capital. He said Diaz-Canel in his speech to the country called on people who support the Cuban revolution to come out to defend it.
“These are the biggest protests in Cuba for decades,” Augustin told Al Jazeera.
Washington meanwhile reacted swiftly to the day’s events.
“The US supports freedom of expression and assembly across Cuba, and would strongly condemn any violence or targeting of peaceful protesters who are exercising their universal rights,” US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Twitter.
Cuba was left relatively unscathed in the first months of the coronavirus outbreak, but it has seen a recent increase in infections.
A new record of 6,923 daily cases was reported on Sunday, along with 47 additional deaths. “These are alarming numbers which are increasing daily,” said Francisco Duran, head of epidemiology in the health ministry.
The country has been developing five of its own COVID-19 vaccines and last month said one of them, called Abdalla, showed 92 percent efficiency.
Cuban doctors and nurses have been fanning out across the capital in an effort to encourage jabs, hoping inoculations will help stem the rising infection numbers.
mastermind
Rest In Power Kobe
If no US media outlet is talking about the sanctions and blockade then they are sharing propoganda.
Shared an AJ link.A looooooot of media are sharing propaganda….
The politicians in Florida bloodthirsty AF
Saw this on my recommended
PhD student at UW Madison who lived there last 5 years. Ryan Grim probably booked him
What are the reasons for the sanctions?
mastermind
Rest In Power Kobe
the US hates communism and wants its whore island back.
pressure from Cuban Floridians and FL is a swing state
Isaiah Bradley
Banned
but Iran deal?
I dont hate on socialism per se, but why must all socialist countries be allergic to free elections? I feel a lot of these states wouldnt fail if free elections could change incompetent leaders
Al Woyane’s coverage during the Venezuela fukkery AND the Bolivia coup fukkery let me know they in lock step with America when it comes to left leaning govts in Latin America.
That would be possible if there wasn’t a gigantic superpower behaving like it owns the hemisphere.
88m3
Fast Money & Foreign Objects
you're an idiot
Json
Superstar
Doing with “less” so everyone does well ain’t exactly a strong human being element especially when you have corporations and such willing to pay/exploit you for your talents.
So the only way to maintain a socialist continuity and not let a capitalist government slip in is to maintain an iron grip.
