The covert group known as Comandos Libres de Holguín (CLH) has once again made its presence felt in the eastern Cuban city. Bold messages such as "Down with the PCC," "Freedom for the People," and "Canel Murderer" have been spray-painted on the Plaza de los Chinos and near the Vladimir Ilich Lenin University Hospital, the province's primary medical facility.
Activist Ariel Góngora shared photos and a video of these defiant graffiti on Facebook this Monday, crediting the CLH for their creation. "CLH strikes again with graffiti in the Plaza de los Chinos near Lenin Hospital in Holguín. We continue, aiming for more," Góngora posted, with his update garnering over 6,000 views in under 24 hours.
These fresh acts of defiance come just a week after similar slogans appeared in Santa Clara. On September 15, phrases like "Down with Canel" and "Down with Canel and the PCC" were discovered on the façade of the University Theater at the Central University "Marta Abreu" of Las Villas, the alma mater of Díaz-Canel.
In response, authorities obscured the graffiti with Cuban flags and deployed Technical Investigation Department agents alongside canine units to the site.
Holguín's Mounting Challenges
Holguín is grappling with severe crises on several fronts. In June, the provincial Electric Company admitted to having only 70 MW available against a demand of 240 MW, fulfilling less than 30% of the required capacity. Some circuits have endured blackouts exceeding 50 continuous hours.
Exacerbating the energy crisis is the dire water shortage. By September, more than 229,000 residents in the city were experiencing water supply cycles exceeding seven days, with the Lenin Hospital—one of the locations tagged with graffiti—lacking consistent access to water.
The nation has experienced at least eight total blackouts of the national electric system so far in 2026, illustrating the collapse of the energy infrastructure after decades of neglect.
Graffiti as a Form of Protest
Secret graffiti have become a widespread method of protest across the island. In June 2026, the Cuban Observatory of Conflicts recorded a peak of 41 antigovernment graffiti in one month, the highest number since it began tracking them in September 2020. Back in February of the same year, 42 were counted, marking another monthly high, within a total of 1,185 spontaneous protests or complaints.
Holguín has its own history of this dissident expression. In August 2022, signs reading "Down with the Dictatorship" appeared on the Loma de la Cruz, and by June 2025, over twenty graffiti covered the wall of the Mayabe cemetery with phrases like "Homeland and Life" and "Freedom for the People."
The Instagram account "Guapo y Fajao," which has documented many of these acts, summarized the sentiment following the Santa Clara graffiti with a phrase that resonates widely: "The regime can cover a phrase with flags and repaint a wall, but it cannot hide the growing discontent within Cuba."
Understanding the Growing Discontent in Cuba
What messages were painted by the Comandos Libres de Holguín?
The messages included "Down with the PCC," "Freedom for the People," and "Canel Murderer."
Where did the recent graffiti appear in Holguín?
The graffiti appeared in the Plaza de los Chinos and near the Vladimir Ilich Lenin University Hospital.
How have the authorities responded to the graffiti?
Authorities have covered the messages with Cuban flags and dispatched agents and canine units to the areas affected.
What are the primary challenges facing Holguín currently?
Holguín is dealing with an electricity crisis, with blackouts exceeding 50 hours, and a severe water shortage affecting over 229,000 residents.