In Río Cauto, Granma, tensions flared during a protest over the arbitrary detention of Cuban mother Mayelín Carrasco Álvarez. Local residents courageously confronted the repressive forces of the regime. Recently released video footage reveals a crowd demanding answers from a police line, which included high-ranking officials from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) and the National Revolutionary Police (PNR), along with plainclothes officers recording the demonstrators.
The protestors, predominantly women, boldly challenged the security forces, declaring, "No one is inciting us here; we all have the same needs!" This chant underscored that their protest stemmed not from external manipulation but from a deep-seated desperation and hunger.
One of the protest's most intense moments occurred when a young Cuban woman confronted a MININT lieutenant colonel. Turning to the crowd, she firmly asked, “What crime have I committed?” The crowd responded in unison, “None!” Refusing to be intimidated by the officers' threats, she continued to demand answers regarding the situation of Mayelín Carrasco Álvarez, a mother of three detained on March 5th after a peaceful protest in Ángel Frías Square.
With determination, the protestors demanded, “Explain to the people why Mayelín is imprisoned! Mayelín did nothing!” The unease among colonels, lieutenant colonels, majors, and members of the National Special Brigade (BEN), known as Black Berets, was palpable, as was the tension among leaders and other plainclothes officers who roamed the scene talking on their phones.
As the situation escalated, more locals joined the protest, voicing their frustration with statements like, “We all have these problems; arrest us all then!” The deployment of the notorious Black Berets highlighted the government's fear of losing control.
The video captures how the plainclothes officers, besides filming the demonstrators, attempted to identify leaders of the protest for potential future reprisals. Despite this, the community stood firm in their demand for justice and freedom for Carrasco Álvarez.
Following her arrest, Mayelín was moved by the political police from Río Cauto to the city of Bayamo, where she is held in a MININT facility. During an interrogation, she fainted and required medical attention, heightening concerns among her supporters about her health and the treatment she is receiving.
As of now, the Cuban regime has not issued any official statements regarding the detained mother's situation or the growing wave of protests in Río Cauto. Meanwhile, the population remains resolute in their struggle, demonstrating that their frustration and desperation over Cuba's crisis have reached a boiling point.
Key Questions About the Río Cauto Protests
Why was Mayelín Carrasco Álvarez detained?
Mayelín Carrasco Álvarez was detained for participating in a peaceful protest in Ángel Frías Square on March 5th.
What actions are the protesters in Río Cauto demanding?
The protesters in Río Cauto are demanding the release of Mayelín Carrasco Álvarez and are voicing their general frustrations about the current socio-economic conditions in Cuba.
How has the Cuban regime responded to the protests?
As of now, the Cuban regime has not made any official statements about the protests or the detention of Mayelín Carrasco Álvarez.