On Monday, residents of Santiago de Cuba took to the streets in a demonstration that was captured on video and shared across social media by journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada.
Initially, Mayeta identified the location as the San Pedrito neighborhood, but numerous locals familiar with the city quickly corrected him. The footage actually depicts the intersection of San Pedro and Martí streets, right at the heart of Santiago de Cuba's historic center, distinctly separate from the outlying San Pedrito area.
This distinction is significant. San Pedrito is a distant suburb, whereas San Pedro Street cuts through the core institutional and heritage areas of the city, lending greater symbolic weight to the demonstration.
Corrections poured in from many voices. "The video you uploaded is from Martí and San Pedro by the pyramid, not from San Pedrito," wrote user Linda Mendez.
Manuel Alejandro Grille added, "It's San Pedro and Martí, my friend," while Carlos Enrique Fuentes Delgado confirmed, "That's Martí and San Pedro, my neighborhood folks."
Eddysandra Pozo was more precise, noting, "It's San Pedro, between San Ricardo and Santa Isabel," and added, "They really came out, it happened on the corner of my house."
A user claiming to have been in San Pedrito at the time mentioned that the area was calm, reinforcing that the protest occurred elsewhere.
The catalyst for this gathering appears to be the ongoing electrical crisis. Leagne Reyes Copello commented, "Since dawn, circuit 8 has been without power and it's 3:23 PM and still nothing."
Another user mentioned having to leave the city center due to the lack of internet connection.
The video shows a large crowd on a street lined with dilapidated colonial buildings and tangled electrical wires. Several commentators voiced slogans like "Freedom for Cuba," "Down with Canel," and "Homeland and Life, Down with Communism."
The reaction from many was one of relief and support. "Finally, my fellow Santiago residents have awakened," wrote Franklin Naranjo.
"And this time, it's not just following behind the conga," noted Diva Torres.
Monday's protest is part of a continuing wave of demonstrations in Santiago de Cuba.
Last Wednesday, pot-banging protests were reported in the Portuondo neighborhood after more than 12 hours without electricity, and on March 15, protests in the Micro 9 neighborhood resulted in arrests and a security forces deployment.
Nationwide, last Saturday, the National Electric System registered a maximum shortfall of 2,041 MW, leaving 51% of the country without electricity simultaneously.
The Cuban Conflict Observatory recorded 1,133 protests throughout Cuba in April 2026, a 29.5% increase compared to the same month in 2025, with no signs of this trend reversing.
As one commenter summarized amid the debate over the exact location: "It doesn't matter if it's San Pedro, San Pedrito, or San Perico... people are tired and protesting... it's not easy."
Understanding the Protests in Santiago de Cuba
What triggered the recent protests in Santiago de Cuba?
The protests were primarily triggered by a prolonged power outage, as residents grew frustrated with the lack of electricity and other ongoing issues.
Where did the protest take place?
The protest occurred at the intersection of San Pedro and Martí streets, in the historic center of Santiago de Cuba, not in the San Pedrito neighborhood as initially reported.
What slogans were chanted during the protest?
Protesters chanted slogans such as "Freedom for Cuba," "Down with Canel," and "Homeland and Life, Down with Communism."