This week, over 20 graffiti slogans opposing the Cuban government were discovered on the wall of Mayabe Cemetery in Holguín. According to the independent outlet 14 y Medio, the slogans included phrases like “Down with the dictatorship,” “Homeland and life,” “Díaz-Canel, singao,” and “Freedom for the people.” These appeared last Thursday on the cemetery's outer wall.
Early in the morning, officers from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) were stationed at the site, closely monitoring passersby to prevent them from taking photos while they attempted to remove the graffiti. “You couldn’t even take out your phone to check a message... They didn’t take their eyes off me, and for a moment, I was afraid they might detain me,” said an electric tricycle driver who passed by the cemetery early Thursday, speaking to the independent media outlet.
The independent media shared images of the freshly repainted wall after the graffiti had been erased. Witnesses reported that a tanker filled with lime was used to cover the slogans.
Such anti-regime graffiti is becoming increasingly common, reflecting growing public discontent. Earlier in June, a sign reading “Down with the dictatorship” appeared in one of the busiest areas of Sancti Spíritus, causing a stir on social media and among onlookers before MININT agents removed it. The message was painted in black letters on a prominent wall located at the intersection of the Central Highway and Avenida de los Mártires (Marcos García), opposite the provincial headquarters of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA) and the “José Martí” University.
Late last year, several signs criticizing Raúl Castro appeared in the town of Dos Caminos, San Luis municipality, in Santiago Province. Written in black pencil on what seemed to be a house wall, the texts read: "Down with Raúl" and "Ping... there's hunger."
In Cuba, these forms of protest are increasingly frequent but are often met with repression. Authorities typically arrive at the scene with experts, dogs, and specialized personnel to identify and imprison those responsible. In May of last year, a court sentenced young Jorge Luis Boada Valdés to nine years in prison, alleging he was behind a large anti-regime banner that appeared in the Santos Suárez neighborhood of Havana in January 2022.
Public Discontent and Anti-Regime Graffiti in Cuba
What were the slogans written on the Holguín cemetery wall?
The slogans included “Down with the dictatorship,” “Homeland and life,” “Díaz-Canel, singao,” and “Freedom for the people.”
How did the authorities respond to the graffiti at the cemetery?
MININT officers monitored the area to prevent photos and used a tanker filled with lime to cover the graffiti.
Are these forms of protest common in Cuba?
Yes, such expressions of dissent are becoming more frequent in Cuba, although they are often met with repression by the authorities.