A peculiar and somewhat amusing sign critical of the Cuban regime appeared on a wall in Santiago de Cuba on Wednesday, only to be swiftly erased by regime supporters. Independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada shared images on Facebook of the artwork, depicting a man crushed by a bag or sack labeled "97 hours of blackout."
In additional photos, several police officers can be seen at the scene along with two individuals in plain clothes removing the sign, a common practice by authorities in such situations. However, this time, rather than completely erasing the image, they painted over it with a new message that replaced the blackout statement with "Down with the blockade."
Public Reaction and Social Media Buzz
"How things change in Cuba! From '97 hours of blackout' to 'Down with the blockade.' Unbelievable," remarked Mayeta. The post sparked various reactions from social media users.
One commenter sarcastically noted the "tremendous creativity of these [expletive] who altered the sign." Another expressed frustration, saying, "Excellent sign, it's a disrespect. How long must we continue struggling, enduring all these wretched communists?"
A woman humorously added, "I didn't get it, hahaha, they put up a sign saying 97 hours of blackout, then the guards came, erased it, and wrote down with the blockade. Oh no, what is this..."
Key Questions about the Sign Controversy in Santiago de Cuba
What did the original sign in Santiago de Cuba say?
The original sign depicted a man crushed by a sack labeled "97 hours of blackout," highlighting the ongoing power outages.
How did authorities respond to the sign?
Authorities responded by erasing the sign and replacing the message with "Down with the blockade," changing the focus to U.S. sanctions.