Residents of the El Caney neighborhood, located on the outskirts of Santiago de Cuba, have taken to painting anti-government slogans on various walls throughout their area amid the severe systemic crisis affecting them. Despite efforts by the regime to cover up the graffiti early in the morning, local reporter Yosmany Mayeta captured images of the messages demanding an end to the dictatorship and criticizing the dire living conditions that the people of Santiago endure daily.
Among the phrases that adorned the facades of several homes were "Down with the Dictatorship," "Díaz-Canel Scoundrel," and "No More Blackouts." According to the images posted, regime authorities removed the graffiti at dawn, as part of their ongoing attempt to silence any form of dissent.
Residents of the area expressed in comments on the post that they are fed up with the misery, power outages lasting up to 20 hours, food shortages, inflation, and the ongoing issues with potable water and widespread dumping sites throughout the province. The government's lack of response, coupled with imposed restrictions on freedom of speech, continues to fuel public discontent.
Growing Voices of Protest Across Cuba
In recent weeks, similar protests have been reported in various parts of the country, with citizens demanding a change in governmental policies and solutions to the structural problems plaguing the nation. The Cuban regime, in response, maintains tight control over media and social networks, limiting citizens' ability to organize and voice their grievances.