In this article, Sraya explains the protests in Cuba.
Photo Credit: NBC News
There is no food, no medication, and no liberty "They don't let us live" Alejandro, one of the protestors, told BBC Mundo. Cuba is in the midst of an economic crisis and is hard hit by
US sanctions and the new coronavirus. Tania Bruguera, an artist, and prominent rebel had
her home besieged by Cuban security officers. They transported her to Villa Marista, a
Cuban state security jail known for housing political detainees, where she was interrogated
for attempting to overthrow the Havana government. After 11 hours of interrogation, she
was accused of plotting against the government through protests. The arrest had an
unexpected wave of protesters across Cuba, in which thousands took over the streets but
they were taken down by police brutality and the government shutdown on the internet.
While yelling "Freedom!" and "Down with Communism!" may seem harmless in other parts
of the world, doing so on the strictly controlled Communist-run island will almost certainly
land you in jail.
What sparked the protests and what is currently taking place?
Why is it happening? Its not just COVID-19, people are sick and tired of government’s abuse.
Cubans have to wait for eight hours in line just to get a piece of bread. This was the last
straw because they were tired of seeing people in power and their kids having a great life.
When the protests started happening, people in different provinces were calling each other
to tell what was going on. The government then promptly shut off the internet. They also
began spreading false news in tandem with the blackout. Dozens of protestors were
arrested by the security forces. Some of the images on social media show the security forces
beating and pepper spraying some of the protesters. Furthermore, the government has
been looking at the films on the internet and determining where they were taken, then
traveling to these people's houses to seize them, harass them, and persuade them to
remove the footage.
The message from the people is clear: Ravishing from stores mean that they are hungry and
turning over the police cars means that they are tired of police brutality.