Mass Protests in Cuba

[Ⓐnarchy in the ☭☭☭P!]

As of several hours ago mass protests broke out across several cities in Cuba as a result of the deteriorating COVID situation. It hasn't made the English speaking news yet but I'm sure it will very soon. In the meantime, some direct coverage from Twitter:

https://twitter.com/VinicioSenador/status/1414299054566162439

https://twitter.com/RosaMariaPaya/status/1414263514408099841

https://twitter.com/dw_espanol/status/1414300583536779266

https://twitter.com/SOSCUBA9/status/1414286471465521152

UPDATE: Clashes between military and protesters, internet has been cut off across Cuba, unconfirmed reports that police have been standing down hence the military being sent in

https://twitter.com/Datoworld/status/1414295230040379394

"Inusual multitudinaria protesta en Cuba" - BBC

https://twitter.com/Grifter07544062/status/1414303072004812801

There's also a Youtube live stream covering things in Spanish with a substantial viewership

[Crumpets]

I can't wait for the usual suspects to say these are all CIA backed neo-Nazis or whatever.

But seriously, as someone who's been to Cuba and fell in love with it, it's good to have the voices of those who aren't part of the perfectly curated image the government has set up for the world to see have their voices heard. Cuba never really seems to get the same level of attention as China, Russia, or Venezuela, and when it does, it always seems to be as a political pawn by one side or the other.

[Crumpets]

https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1414317822633775108

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

I can't wait for the usual suspects to say these are all CIA backed neo-Nazis or whatever.

But seriously, as someone who's been to Cuba and fell in love with it, it's good to have the voices of those who aren't part of the perfectly curated image the government has set up for the world to see have their voices heard. Cuba never really seems to get the same level of attention as China, Russia, or Venezuela, and when it does, it always seems to be as a political pawn by one side or the other.

It’s not big or powerful like Russia and China and it’s not (relatively) novel like Venezuela.

[H. Ross Peron]

I can't wait for the usual suspects to say these are all CIA backed neo-Nazis or whatever.

But seriously, as someone who's been to Cuba and fell in love with it, it's good to have the voices of those who aren't part of the perfectly curated image the government has set up for the world to see have their voices heard. Cuba never really seems to get the same level of attention as China, Russia, or Venezuela, and when it does, it always seems to be as a political pawn by one side or the other.

The other usual suspects will claim that these protesters want libertarian capitalism.

[Crumpets]

https://twitter.com/FrancesRobles/status/1414332785121189893

[WindowPhil]

What's the likelihood this leads to a change in government and the US embargo ending?

[Omega21]

I can't wait for the usual suspects to say these are all CIA backed neo-Nazis or whatever.

But seriously, as someone who's been to Cuba and fell in love with it, it's good to have the voices of those who aren't part of the perfectly curated image the government has set up for the world to see have their voices heard. Cuba never really seems to get the same level of attention as China, Russia, or Venezuela, and when it does, it always seems to be as a political pawn by one side or the other.

The other usual suspects will claim that these protesters want libertarian capitalism.

Beats working as a physician for $70 per month.

[Derpist]

Typical CIA color revolution. Like Hong Kong or Belarus, it will thankfully fail.

There are obviously legitimate material concerns, but that the official line is to call for support from the imperialist power whose embargo is causing those concerns is a mask-off moment.

[Suburbia]

This gives Maria Elvira Salazar, Ron DeSantis and Marco Rubio more ammo to call Dems "socialist" and a preview of what is to come....

[Former President tack50]

What's the likelihood this leads to a change in government and the US embargo ending?

After seeing what happened in Belarus only a few months ago, quite low actually, at least in my opinion.

[Farmlands]

What's the likelihood this leads to a change in government and the US embargo ending?

After seeing what happened in Belarus only a few months ago, quite low actually, at least in my opinion.

Yeah. Sadly, these dictators seem to have learned a few things from 1989 and understood that clamping down further on dissenters is better than giving them any inch, if they want to stay in power.

[P. Clodius Pulcher did nothing wrong]

Hopefully this isn't another boy crying wolf situation. Exile media get so wound up over every other protest these last few years, the cynic in me keeps saying it's another blip on the radar

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

This gives Maria Elvira Salazar, Ron DeSantis and Marco Rubio more ammo to call Dems "socialist" and a preview of what is to come....

This really isn't about random Florida Republicans, bronz.

[Suburbia]

This gives Maria Elvira Salazar, Ron DeSantis and Marco Rubio more ammo to call Dems "socialist" and a preview of what is to come....

This really isn't about random Florida Republicans, bronz.

Yes it is because they will milk the living daylight out of this in Florida in 2022

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

This gives Maria Elvira Salazar, Ron DeSantis and Marco Rubio more ammo to call Dems "socialist" and a preview of what is to come....

This really isn't about random Florida Republicans, bronz.

Yes it is because they will milk the living daylight out of this in Florida in 2022

Okay, but right now it's 2021 and this is happening in Cuba, not Florida.

[Orwell]

As always, Viva Cuba Libre!

[Bootes Void]

Typical CIA color revolution. Like Hong Kong or Belarus, it will thankfully fail.

There are obviously legitimate material concerns, but that the official line is to call for support from the imperialist power whose embargo is causing those concerns is a mask-off moment.

Most of the world does business with Cuba, is that why they are poor?

[The Mikado]

What's the likelihood this leads to a change in government and the US embargo ending?

After seeing what happened in Belarus only a few months ago, quite low actually, at least in my opinion.

It's good to be dubious on day 1.

That said, I'm not sure Belarus is the best example for you to use re: it'll just burn out. Belarus is nearing the 1 year mark of the start of its protest cycle and is still very unstable and messy. It's unclear whether Lukashenko will ever have the degree of uncontested authority he had before this, even if it doesn't topple him.

Will this overthrow the Cuban government? I have no idea. This only started hours ago and no one has a serious idea how big or intense this is. That said, even if the answer is "no," No is not necessarily "the regime will just shrug this off." Some even failed revolts can have serious destabilizing effects.

[Ⓐnarchy in the ☭☭☭P!]

The situation has developed rapidly since the protests started. Going purely on videos, pictures, tweets etc I've actually seen (unfortunately I didn't save them but I'd appreciate if anyone could find them):

* There have been cases of police joining the protesters as well as cases of police opening fire on the protesters with live ammunition. Cuba's police and military seem extremely unprepared for mass civil protest thanks to decades of firm control.

* There are also videos of what appear to be undercover police or possibly paramilitaries in civilian clothes unloading from trucks and starting trouble in the protests, so the regime isn't completely clueless when it comes to disruption

* Also several cases of protesters throwing rocks at police, overturning police/paramilitary vehicles and breaking into and looting those stores that sell stuff to tourists.

With the internet cut off it's extremely hard to say whether this is the end of Communism in Cuba or if it's just an unusually widespread riot but at a minimum I think it's safe to say that this is a big deal. The question is how loyal the military and police are to the government and how widespread defections are.

EDIT: Two potentially significant but also potentially dubious examples I managed to find. First, the special forces sent to stop the protesters apparently switched sides, though since the video lacks context take it with a grain of salt (they could be helping local paramilitaries fight protesters off camera)

https://twitter.com/Chex91205827/status/1414466477596594180

Second and even more explosively, a claim that Raúl Castro fled to Caracas. Can't find any verification of this from official news channels but it would be an incredible sign if true

https://twitter.com/rafaelb_prensa/status/1414432277900185602

[Skye]

Good morning. Cuba deserves to be free. Hopefully this will amount to something tangible in their quest for freedom, but I'm not really optimistic.

[WindowPhil]

What's the likelihood this leads to a change in government and the US embargo ending?

After seeing what happened in Belarus only a few months ago, quite low actually, at least in my opinion.

Canadians can rest easy then. No Americans at the resorts they go to to avoid Americans.

[PSOL]

Cuba recently has lifted Covid social distancing restrictions, and with the perfect mix of economic retraction and already being in a state of siege mentality since Trump got rid of normalization, there is of course going to be these protests. I do feel for the Cuban people getting rammed for nothing.

Saying this, this whole thing and the energy of boomers and VoA outside Cuba flagging this online is very similar to previous protests I’ve seen astroturfed in English and Farsi to the Iranian diaspora. No way are these anything substantial or threatening given the repeated lies by previous social media boostings. Cuba’s threats to regime change are entirely external given the fact that since the late 1980s they have tried to bridge the gap between the people and the party and have done a pretty good job at handling the Coronavirus crisis.

[Never Made it to Graceland]

Cuba recently has lifted Covid social distancing restrictions, and with the perfect mix of economic retraction and already being in a state of siege mentality since Trump got rid of normalization, there is of course going to be these protests. I do feel for the Cuban people getting rammed for nothing.

Saying this, this whole thing and the energy of boomers and VoA outside Cuba flagging this online is very similar to previous protests I’ve seen astroturfed in English and Farsi to the Iranian diaspora. No way are these anything substantial or threatening given the repeated lies by previous social media boostings. Cuba’s threats to regime change are entirely external given the fact that since the late 1980s they have tried to bridge the gap between the people and the party and have done a pretty good job at handling the Coronavirus crisis.

Agreed. I would boil and eat a hat if these "spontaneous" solidarity protests in Miami/Houston weren't coordinated on Whatsapp for weeks prior, by the same shady misinformation agents calling Covid a "scamdemic" and pushing 2020 election fraud lies.

[CumbrianLefty]

Good morning. Cuba deserves to be free. Hopefully this will amount to something tangible in their quest for freedom, but I'm not really optimistic.

Trouble is, for too many "free" means a return to the Batista days.