Cubans Rally in Support After Arrests of Gibara Protesters

Following the initial detentions in Gibara, Holguín, after a peaceful protest against power outages, a Facebook post by CiberCuba ignited a wave of outrage and unity among users. Over the first 24 hours, comments reflected the widespread frustration with the repression and daily hardships faced on the island. Numerous online voices agreed that the protest in Gibara was a legitimate response to the collapse of essential services.

For many, patience has run thin: “We’re enduring so much, and they expect us to remain silent. How much longer can we endure this?” Others highlighted how the prolonged resignation has been exploited by the regime: “They’ve been holding on for so long that the communists think it’s normal.” Many described the situation as unbearable: “We can’t cook, wash, or sleep... How do we face each day when we go to bed exhausted and wake up the same?”

The Struggle for Basic Rights and Freedom of Expression

Criticism centered on the lack of fundamental freedoms. Comments noted that repression against peaceful demonstrations is a blatant violation of human rights: “Repression against freedom of expression. Where is the respect for that human right?” Most agreed that freedom of expression does not exist in Cuba. For many commenters, the arrests for demanding basic services underline the dictatorial nature of the system. “Cuba is the only country where someone is arrested for saying they’re hungry,” one user remarked, while another summarized: “This is pure dictatorship.”

Amid the flood of opinions, several people recalled that the Constitution explicitly acknowledges the right to protest, citing Article 56, which states that “the rights to assembly, demonstration, and association, for lawful and peaceful purposes, are recognized by the State as long as they are exercised with respect to public order and compliance with the provisions established by law.”

Calls for Unity and Leadership

Beyond the anger, many comments stressed the need for citizen organization. Several agreed that an opposition leadership capable of mobilizing the masses would be crucial: “Once Cuba has opposition leaders who can rally the people, there won’t be enough jails to hold everyone.” Others pointed out that unity is essential to achieve real change: “In unity, there is strength, from Cabo de San Antonio to Punta de Maisí.” Meanwhile, warnings about the vulnerability of isolated protests were highlighted, as they often serve the regime as an excuse to punish and intimidate the populace.

Daily Life Amid Blackouts

Reactions were marked by frustration over the energy crisis and shortages. “There’s no food, no medicine, and we live in darkness,” summarized one comment. Others described everyday scenes of despair: families spending up to 40 hours without electricity, children without clean water, and the sick without access to medication.

Indignation also targeted the State’s priorities: “There’s always fuel, patrols, and police to arrest protesters, but no gasoline for ambulances or medicines in hospitals.”

Anger and Despair

The tone of the comments swung between outrage and resignation. “What a horror, we can’t even protest, we can’t endure this hell any longer,” wrote one user. Others used irony: “They’ll have to arrest the entire island.” Some appealed to divine justice: “Only divine justice will condemn them one by one when their final judgment comes. They deserve to burn in hell.” Others acknowledged that fear remains a barrier: “Support is again for the streets, not letting them detain us, but people are afraid.”

A Message to the Regime and Its Repressive Forces

Many comments were directed at the police and agents responsible for the repression. There were calls to remember that they are also part of the people and suffer the same shortages, but the majority conveyed messages of condemnation: “Thugs, repressors, your crimes will not go unpunished.” The consensus was that repression solves nothing and only deepens the crisis. “Detaining isn’t solving. People are asking for the bare minimum: electricity, water, food. That’s not a luxury, it’s a basic need.”

A Unified Outcry

Despite different perspectives, the common thread among the thousands of comments was solidarity with the Gibara protesters. “They’re not criminals, they’re just asking for what all Cubans need: the basics to survive,” summarized another user. The indignation was mixed with calls for collective resistance. “When all of Cuba does what Gibara did, they won’t be able to detain everyone,” expressed another widely supported comment.

The echo of these voices on social media demonstrates that, even though the regime tries to impose silence with patrols and arrests, citizen discontent finds ways to express itself and unite. As one message in capital letters put it: “They were claiming their rights!”