An elderly woman, hard of hearing and reliant on a crutch, is making her way through her neighborhood in Havana, gathering signatures on a handwritten sheet. Her petition denounces the unfair distribution of power outages and demands justice from the electric authorities.
This incident was recounted on Facebook by Javier Bobadilla on Saturday. He described the moment when the woman stopped at his window and explained, in a "brief and concise" manner, the essence of her petition.
"The text discusses the distribution of power cuts, how some mysteriously never lose power, and calls for justice," he noted.
The woman was fully aware of the limited impact of her actions. "She tells me she knows it's a symbolic gesture. She also knows perfectly well that ALL of us should have power ALL THE TIME," Bobadilla wrote.
Despite the fear, she was not deterred. According to the account, she tried to draft the text without "getting political," as she put it, "you know how things got down there." Yet, she ventured out with a crutch, two sheets of paper, and a pen.
Bobadilla signed the petition with his full name and address. "Not because it bothers me that others have power while I don’t, but because, while there are 25 loafers on the corner who think they're tough, sitting around all day talking nonsense, this lady decided that if this was going to be her last fight, so be it," he explained.
He closed his post with a phrase that summed up the sentiment of many: "She is losing her fear and learning to fight, and I would sign that even on a blank sheet."
Bobadilla's post unleashed a torrent of reactions. "There are gestures that may seem small, but they embody immense greatness. While many resign themselves or look the other way, this lady, with a crutch and more courage than strength, decided to speak up," one user wrote.
Another was more direct: "Bravo for her, she is brave and aware that it's symbolic, I would sign too, not for the redistribution of outages, but for their elimination. Of those who cause them."
One reader compared the woman to the mothers of the Maceo family, a historical symbol of female bravery in Cuba: "Brave and dignified lady, she carries Cuban blood. I see her in this gesture and she reminds me of Mariana Grajales."
Another comment summarized it succinctly: "A gesture that might be normal in any other country; in today's Cuba, it's an act of bravery."
This story unfolds amid an especially intense day of protests in Havana. On Saturday, there were pot-banging protests in the neighborhood known as La Genética in Playa, adding to previous demonstrations of social discontent in Carlos III, San Miguel del Padrón, and La Güinera, which involved tire burning and documented police repression.
In Havana, power outages now last between 20 to 24 continuous hours. In block 2 of Playa, a resident reported 40 consecutive hours without electricity while the block across the street slept with the lights on.
The elderly woman's complaint is neither new nor isolated. In May, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero ordered a "better distribution" of power cuts in the capital, implicitly acknowledging the inequality citizens document hour by hour.
Understanding Havana's Power Outage Discontent
Why is the elderly woman collecting signatures in Havana?
She is collecting signatures to protest the unequal distribution of power outages and demand justice from the electric authorities in Havana.
What challenges do residents face due to power outages in Havana?
Residents in Havana face prolonged power outages lasting between 20 to 24 hours, with some areas experiencing up to 40 consecutive hours without electricity.
How has the community reacted to the elderly woman's actions?
The community has reacted positively, applauding her bravery and recognizing her efforts as a symbol of resistance against inequality and power cuts.