Students at the University of Camagüey staged a pot-banging protest on Monday night after enduring more than 30 hours without power, as reported to CiberCuba.
A video sent to our newsroom reveals the resounding clatter of pots and chants of "turn on the power," as several young people demonstrated in the darkened corridors of the university. Mere minutes later, electricity was restored, sparking even greater outrage among the students, who saw the timing as a taunt after hours of despair, heat, and exhaustion.
The footage was shared by CiberCuba Noticias on Facebook, where hundreds of users expressed their support and frustration over the situation. Comments included sentiments like "you can’t study or sleep with so many blackouts," "there’s no way to complete a university degree like this," and "don’t give up, you are the hope." Others directly criticized the Cuban regime with statements such as "the problem isn’t the power, it’s the system" and "you’ve tolerated too much, it’s time to say enough."
Camagüeyan journalist José Luis Tan Estrada confirmed that this was the second pot-banging protest at the University of Camagüey in recent weeks, recalling previous demonstrations over blackouts and the poor conditions in student housing.
The protest in Camagüey is part of a wave of demonstrations occurring in various parts of Havana and other provinces, where blackouts lasted over 48 hours during the weekend and into Monday. In Marianao, residents took to the streets with pots and makeshift fires to demand electricity and basic rights, scenes documented by CiberCuba and spread across social media.
The Cuban Observatory of Conflicts (OCC) reported a historic record of 1,326 protests across the island in November, driven by demands for electricity, food, and civil liberties. The scarcity of fuel, extended blackouts, and rampant inflation have turned daily life into a struggle for millions of Cubans.
As the regime under Miguel Díaz-Canel, with the real power held by Raúl Castro and military control by GAESA, continues to offer no solutions, the Cuban people persist in raising their voices. This time, it was the students of Camagüey who said enough, banging their pots to demand at least the light that the system denies them.
Key Issues Behind Cuban Protests
What sparked the pot-banging protest at the University of Camagüey?
The protest was triggered by prolonged blackouts lasting over 30 hours, which left students frustrated and desperate, leading them to demand the restoration of electricity.
How have other regions in Cuba responded to similar issues?
Regions like Marianao have seen residents take to the streets with pots and fires, demanding electricity and basic rights, as part of a broader wave of protests across Havana and other provinces.
What does the Cuban Observatory of Conflicts report about protests on the island?
In November, the OCC reported a record 1,326 protests across Cuba, driven by demands for electricity, food, and civil liberties amidst ongoing economic and social challenges.