On Saturday night, residents of Lawton, a neighborhood in Havana's Diez de Octubre municipality, took to the streets in protest. Armed with pots, fires, and chants of "Freedom!" and "We want electricity!", they voiced their frustration over the relentless power outages plaguing the Cuban capital. Videos of the event were shared by Martí Noticias.
Footage posted on X by activist Elsa Morejón—wife of former political prisoner and opposition leader Dr. Oscar Elías Biscet—captures around twenty locals banging pots near fires lit on the street. "Protests in Lawton #Havana #Cuba with pot-banging and cries for light and freedom," Morejón noted on her social media account.
One video shows police officers arriving at the scene to disperse the crowd, with at least one officer recording the protesters on a cellphone. "The police have arrived at the protest. Lawton #Havana #Cuba," Morejón warned in another post.
Another Power Plant Shutdown Fuels Unrest
Saturday's protest was sparked by yet another shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant—the country's largest—from the National Electric System (SEN). This marks the 17th such incident in 2026 alone, leading to widespread power cuts across the island.
Lawton has been a hotspot for unrest; just the previous Friday, residents of Dolores Street staged a nighttime protest, banging pots and burning trash in response to the area's persistent blackouts. In March 2026, locals set streets ablaze after enduring 36 hours without power, resulting in at least one arrest. The situation worsened on July 8 when two decayed utility poles collapsed during the year's fourth total blackout.
Island-Wide Energy Crisis Intensifies
Throughout July, similar demonstrations have erupted in Guanabacoa, El Vedado, Centro Habana, Old Havana, El Cerro, and Santiago de Cuba. This month has proven to be the most challenging for Cuba's energy sector, with five total SEN collapses in 2026 and ten in roughly two years. The first half of July alone witnessed three national blackouts on the 6th, 10th, and 14th.
On July 10, the energy deficit peaked at 2,341 MW, with a mere 935 MW available against a demand of 3,100 MW, leaving 9.6 million Cubans without power. In Matanzas, where the Guiteras plant is located, outages extended for 87 consecutive hours.
This wave of protests is part of an unprecedented cycle of civil unrest. June 2026 saw 107 street demonstrations across Cuba—a historic record, nearly doubling the previous high of 54 in March—with 82 concentrated in Havana.
The regime's response has been consistent: deploying special troops, police operations, arrests, and targeted internet shutdowns accompany each protest. Despite these measures, the government's repression has failed to quell the anger of a populace enduring scorching temperatures up to 38°C without electricity.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What triggered the recent protests in Lawton?
The recent protests in Lawton were sparked by ongoing power outages and the latest shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant from the National Electric System.
How has the Cuban government responded to the protests?
The Cuban government has responded to the protests with a combination of special troop deployments, police operations, arrests, and targeted internet shutdowns.
Why is July critical for Cuba's energy sector?
July has been critical due to the unprecedented number of energy system collapses, resulting in widespread blackouts and worsening the already dire energy crisis on the island.