In a move to suppress growing dissent, the Cuban authorities deployed military forces at Santa Úrsula Park in Santiago de Cuba this Thursday. This action comes as a direct response to a recent surge of pot-banging protests, known locally as "cacerolazos," which spread across various neighborhoods in the eastern city during the night.
Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, an independent journalist now based in the United States, shared videos and accounts from Santiago de Cuba's residents, highlighting demonstrations in at least four different areas of the city's capital. The recordings, captured in complete darkness, serve as a stark reminder of the power outages plaguing the city, where electricity is available for just a couple of hours each day.
The initial protests erupted in the Reparto Municipal and quickly spread. Mayeta Labrada reported the sound of banging pots and pans resonating from the 18-story buildings of Santiago, located near the provincial headquarters of the Communist Party of Cuba.
Additional reports soon followed: "Cacerolazos are being reported from Santa Úrsula and the Hoyo de Chicharrones," the journalist noted.
A fourth area joined the fray: "Protests are also happening in the Reparto Portuondo," he documented in another video.
The regime's reaction was swift. Following the pot-banging, military forces occupied Santa Úrsula Park, maintaining the oppressive approach previously observed in the city. On June 29, the regime had deployed armed black berets in Chicharrones to intimidate protestors.
The Thursday protests weren't confined to Santiago. In Havana, residents of La Lisa gathered outside the Communist Party headquarters after enduring over 50 consecutive hours without electricity or water. Meanwhile, in El Cerro's Primelles street, pot-banging protests prompted a significant police operation, with vehicles deployed in the area.
In Regla, dozens of residents took to the streets after more than 24 hours without power, chanting, "We want to sleep with lights; we want to live like human beings."
Santiago has been a hotbed of continuous protests for months. On June 18, simultaneous cacerolazos shook all its neighborhoods, and by June 19, protests had reached within blocks of the provincial Communist Party headquarters.
The Cuban Observatory of Conflicts reported a staggering 1,133 protests in April 2026 alone, marking a 29.5% increase from the previous year.
The Energy Minister has conceded that Cuba has been operating without fuel reserves for months and warned that 2026 would be "a challenging year."
Understanding the Recent Protests in Cuba
Why are there protests in Santiago de Cuba?
The protests in Santiago de Cuba are primarily driven by severe power outages and the deteriorating living conditions under the regime's rule, which have caused widespread frustration and unrest.
What is a cacerolazo?
A cacerolazo is a form of protest where participants bang pots and pans to make noise, often used in Latin America to express discontent with government policies or social issues.
How has the Cuban government responded to these protests?
The Cuban government has responded to the protests with increased military presence and police operations, aiming to quell the dissent and maintain control over the population.