This is what the historic anti-government protests in Cuba look like

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Anti-government protests erupted in Cuba this week over a lack of access to food and basic medical supplies amid a spike in coronavirus cases.

The country has suffered from hyperinflation and prolonged blackouts, as long-standing US sanctions restricting access to basic goods and financing, and decades of government corruption and mismanagement, exacerbated by a decline in tourism during the pandemic.

The protests began on Sunday and quickly spread across the country as thousands of Cubans are frustrated by hunger and a lack of basic supplies. “Our children are dying of hunger,” one protester shouted in a video posted on Facebook. Another video posted on Twitter featured protesters calling for “regime change”.

The protests are the largest in recent memory, and government forces, which are usually quick to quell demonstrations, initially struggled to retain control. Some musicians, who have faced repression with the artists for speaking out, also made statements in support of the protesters.

Intermittent internet cuts and harassment and detention of journalists made it difficult to verify events on the ground; However, photos and videos surfaced showing officers in military and in civilian clothes apparently beating and shooting protesters with batons. At least one person was killed, and Amnesty International said at least 150 others were reported missing and may have been arrested.

While the government appears to have softened its stance somewhat, raising the tax on importing goods to the island, that may not be enough to quell the protests. “No, we don’t want crumbs. We want freedom. No blood has flowed down the Cuban streets so we can import more bags,” tweeted blogger and government critic Yoanni Sanchez.

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