This past Tuesday, Cuban police forcefully suppressed a demonstration in Boyeros, where residents gathered to protest prolonged power outages that have plagued certain areas of the capital for six days. Reports from La Hora de Cuba indicate that around 9:00 a.m., a group of locals from 5th Street between A and B in the Boyeros municipality blocked Boyeros Avenue to voice their frustration over the lack of electricity.
The demonstrators expressed that the situation had become unbearable. "Our food has spoiled, and we don't have access to potable water. It's inhumane to live like this while there's a business just across the street that has electricity," stated one protester, visibly angry about the disparity in service.
Witnesses Confirm Police Violence
Additionally, workers from the well-known 100 and Boyeros fair confirmed the incident, noting that the protesters not only blocked the avenue but also one of the main routes connecting to the 100 bridge. The Cuban government's repressive response was swift. Witnesses reported that the police assaulted the demonstrators. "We saw them beating those who were protesting," recounted a local worker cited by the independent outlet.
Government's Heavy-Handed Reaction
By 11:30 a.m., the block where the protest took place was cordoned off with emergency tape, and Ministry of the Interior (MININT) agents were stationed on the sidewalk, while Technical Investigations Department (DTI) motorcycles patrolled the street. The Union Eléctrica (UNE) also deployed crews in the area.
This demonstration erupted just days after Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel issued a stern warning during a presidential conference, threatening that his regime would not tolerate "provocations" or "disruptions to public tranquility."
Protests Spread Across Havana
Meanwhile, there was a heavy police presence this morning at La Esquina de Tejas, in El Cerro, due to a woman protesting against the ongoing blackout in Havana.