Officialdom plays down “nonconformities” and speaks of dialogue “on the basis of empathy and respect”
14ymedio, Havana, 14 September 2025 — Banging on pots and pans and with cries of “Turn on the current, dick” and “Díaz-Canel, motherfucker,” the inhabitants of Gibara, in the province of Holguín, took to the streets on Saturday night after a long day without electricity. With the noice from the pots and pans accompanying their slogans, the demonstrators demanded “the current.”
In a video, despite the darkness, you can see dozens of people outside their homes and hear the sounds. “All day without power, they put it on for 30 minutes and nothing,” says a man. In another film, several protesters are seen defending young people from being arrested by a police officer: “Not the people!” they shout. “This is what we need here,” says a female voice in another video. The scene takes place in one of the main streets of the town, which is surprisingly illuminated while the rest of Gibara remains dark. “The people united will never be defeated” was another of the slogans chanted by the neighbors, recorded and spread on Facebook.
In another video in the shadows, broadcast by the journalist Mario J. Pentón, another Cuban who is defined as “elderly” describes her ordeal without electricity, with a mosquito allergy that keeps her locked in and afraid to be stung by the swarms of insects lurking everywhere. “It’s time to go out on the street like in Nepal,” says the woman, who does not specify from which province she sends her message.
The local media Gibaravisión has been one of the few to cover the protest, although they have downplayed it by saying that it was a dialogue between neighbors and authorities “on the basis of empathy and respect.” In its report, the local channel claims that “a group of residents of Güirito in Gibara, affected by the complex energy situation, left their homes to express their nonconformity from a position of respect and dialogue.” The authorities responded to “questions” and “the population returned home.”
“Currently the white village remains calm and with its usual tranquility,” said the media, which shared images and videos of the town to show that the streets were empty, although still dark.
It also denounced the “politicization” and “manipulation” of events on social networks and called on Cubans to obtain information from “reliable sources.”
Since the national electricity system (SEN) collapsed on Wednesday morning, the hours of electricity for Cubans have been scarce. Although the authorities soon celebrated the “recovery” of the country, many households remain in blackout or with an unstable service.
Tempers have flared throughout the island after the energy collapse, and the tension is palpable. The closure of many private businesses, the cancelation of medical appointments, the suspension of classes in numerous schools and the spoiled food in refrigerators have put an end to the patience of Cubans.
In early August, Holguín staged another protest. In the village of Cajimaya, in the municipality of Mayarí, residents took to the streets to demand water, food and other essential services. Several images and videos then shared on social networks recorded the moment when the police arrested several of the protesters.
Shortly before, in June, something similar happened in Guanabacoa, in the capital. Then, the neighborhood protest ended with a fire and a dozen detainees. The trigger was a blackout, coupled with the lack of water, which pushed residents of the neighborhoods Barreto, Teguete and Potosí to go to the streets among cries of “Freedom!” and the noise of bottles smashing on the pavement.
Police quickly charged several of the protesters. Among them was Sunamis Quintero Garcia, a young mother who, according to witnesses, did not participate directly in the protest. “She was sitting in the doorway. When she saw the police coming, she started shouting ‘Freedom! Long live a free Cuba!’ and right there three agents went after her,” said her mother, Moraima García, in a video broadcast from Florida.
Also in May, protests were reported in Granma, Cienfuegos, Ciego de Ávila and Santiago de Cuba. In all demonstrations, including the one this Saturday, the Cubans are only demanding their most basic rights.
Translated by Regina Anavy
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