In the early hours of June 29, the town of Guanabacoa found itself amidst social unrest that culminated in a crackdown. Numerous social media reports indicate that residents from the neighborhoods of Barreto, Teguete, and Potosí took to the streets, hurling bottles and shouting slogans like "freedom." This spontaneous protest seemed to be fueled by ongoing power outages and water shortages.
The authorities responded swiftly. A substantial police operation swept through the area, reportedly arresting anyone they could, as witnesses recounted. Among those detained was Sunamis Quintero García, a young woman who, according to her mother, was not actively participating in the protest but was merely observing from her home's porch. When officers approached, she began shouting “Freedom! Long live a free Cuba!” and was violently apprehended by three officers.
Sunamis’s mother, Moraima García, who has been residing in Florida for 13 years, has publicly denounced the incident, seeking to bring attention to her daughter's plight. In a video circulated on social media, she explained that her daughter was beaten and initially taken to the Guanabacoa station, then moved to the Regla unit, followed by El Vivac, and finally to a State Security facility where she remains incommunicado.
Sunamis, a mother of two young children—a five-year-old daughter and a one-year-old baby—was enduring a severe depression exacerbated by the economic crisis, food scarcity, and poor living conditions. “My daughter had never protested before. She only shouted because the situation in Cuba is unbearable, especially for a mother with kids,” Moraima stated. “Now they want to prosecute her as a ringleader, as if she were a criminal,” she lamented.
Sunamis's case highlights the human toll of the daily struggles faced by countless Cubans amid deteriorating living conditions and repression of dissent. Her family demands her immediate release and urges the international community and Cuban civil society not to let fear or apathy silence such injustices. “Sharing these cases is a form of resistance,” expressed Cuban activist Carolina Barrero, also condemning the situation.
Wider Unrest in Havana
The Guanabacoa protest was not an isolated incident. On the night of June 30, pot-banging protests were reported in La Lisa, a district of Havana, in response to the extension of blackouts to the capital. “The regime tried to prevent blackouts in Havana, but it’s now unavoidable,” activist Magdiel Jorge Castro stated. “Power cuts have extended to eight hours daily, even during the night, ignoring the announced rotating schedules,” he added.
Additionally, in mid-June, graffiti appeared on the outer wall of a medical clinic in the La Hata neighborhood, also in Guanabacoa, with the message: “Down with the dictatorship. Díaz-Canel singao.” Journalist José Raúl Gallego reported the message, which was quickly shared on social media before being erased by authorities.
Key Questions on Cuban Protests and Repression
What sparked the protests in Guanabacoa?
The protests in Guanabacoa were reportedly triggered by persistent power outages and water shortages, causing residents to demand freedom and improved living conditions.
Who is Sunamis Quintero García?
Sunamis Quintero García is a young mother of two who was arrested during the protests in Guanabacoa. Despite not actively participating, she was taken by police after shouting slogans from her porch. Her case has drawn significant attention to the repression in Cuba.
How has the community reacted to the protests?
The community, along with activists and family members of those detained, has called for international awareness and resistance against the repression, urging that fear and apathy do not silence the injustices being faced.