Yurisleidis Remedios, a Cuban mother living in the Altamira neighborhood of Santiago de Cuba, released a heartfelt video on Facebook condemning the brutal police crackdown she and her children faced during a street protest demanding electricity, food, and freedom. Her voice trembling with emotion, she shared her ordeal with the world.
"Yesterday wasn't just my voice shouting; it was my heart," she begins in the video, recorded the day after the demonstration. Remedios initially believed she was alone in her protest, but soon realized she was joined by numerous children, mothers, elderly, and others in a show of collective defiance. "We broke the ice and took to the streets," she emphasizes.
Confrontation with Authorities
The regime's response was swift and unforgiving: "The enforcers arrived, the henchmen came in three patrol cars. Five officers in each car jumped out, wielding batons as they charged at us, the children's mothers, like demons," Remedios recounts.
Although the women were shielded from direct assault by intervening neighbors, their children were not so fortunate, suffering injuries as they fled in fear. Remedios shares footage of her daughter, Analía, visibly bruised and battered from a fall caused by the chaos. "Did you see what happened to my girl? The terror when those enforcers came at us with batons, striking. Look at how my daughter got hurt," she says, her voice breaking.
A Mother's Political Outcry
Beyond highlighting the repression, Remedios delivers a powerful political message criticizing the regime. "We have a president who has abandoned us, turned his back on us, and isn't standing by us," she declares.
Her criticism of Díaz-Canel is even harsher: "That guy's head is empty; he says whatever he's programmed to say, like artificial intelligence." She holds Fidel and Raúl Castro accountable for the nation's dire straits and family separations, insisting that only a systemic overhaul can save Cuba.
"Everyone knows it's a failed state. Some still think Cuba will improve if the Castro elite remains in power. Not even a miracle can fix Cuba," she stresses.
Protest Movement Gains Momentum
Remedios also condemns the rationing of gas, which the government plans to distribute only to "sick children and large families." Her argument is devastating: "Díaz-Canel, you've made every child sick. So don't say only sick children deserve gas because if that's the case, every Cuban child deserves to cook with gas."
The protest she joined is part of a wave of demonstrations rocking Santiago de Cuba since at least May, fueled by an unprecedented electrical crisis that has left thousands without power for over 24 hours at a time.
This isn't the first time Remedios has openly challenged the regime. On May 28, she was summoned by the police as retaliation for her outspoken criticism of Díaz-Canel, a summons she tore up in defiance, sharing the act on Facebook.
Analyst Rolando Cartaya documented 1,311 protests across Cuba in May alone, with repression following a well-documented pattern. In June, a court in Palma Soriano sought up to ten years' imprisonment for three women who protested against power outages in November 2024, illustrating the regime's systematic criminalization of dissent.
Understanding the Cuban Protests
What triggered the recent protests in Santiago de Cuba?
The protests have been driven by severe electricity shortages, lack of food, and a general demand for freedom and better living conditions.
How has the Cuban government responded to these protests?
The government has responded with heavy police presence and crackdowns, often involving violence and arrests, as seen in the case of Yurisleidis Remedios and her children.
What are the implications of the protests for the Cuban regime?
The protests highlight widespread dissatisfaction with the regime, potentially undermining its authority and signaling a growing demand for significant political and economic reforms.