First Massive Protest Across Cuba In 62-Years.

For the first time in over 62 years the People of Cuba took the streets across the island on July 11th of 2021. The protest first started in a Town called San Antonio de Los Banos, in the province of Artemisa (and through the use of social media rapidly expanded across the entire country. The Communist Regime responded by cutting internet access and with strong military oppressive action. The people of Cuba screamed “Libertad '', Their cries were those of “liberty, freedom and change after 63 years of one-party rule” (BBC). This was a historic landfall in Cuba's fight for freedom as the last major uprising took place in the 1990’s.

(Los Angeles Time)

Cuba has been under a Communist Authoritarian Regime Since January 1st, 1959. This was after Fidel Castro and his revolutionary army Overthrew Fulgencio Batista. At first Castro promised that he wasn't planning on implementing a Communist agenda (NBC). But soon Castro placed Cuba under Soviet wings and proclaimed Cuba as a Communist state in 1961. In 1962, John F. Kennedy strengthened the 1960 embargo against Cuba, as a response. As a result Cuba's International trade has heavily limited the island's foreign trade, costing the regime about $130 billion(NBC). The Cuban regime has heavily rationated goods on the island for a typical Cuban, even the private businesses. These strong government restrictions among others have left the Cuban people heavily dependent on a failed state, with extremely low capacity. There is no food, no medication, and the response of the government to Covid 19 all leading to the tipping point for the Cuban people. The Embargo placed against Cuba by JFK has been the fuel of the anti imperialist and anti American propaganda. As they blame their low capasity on the American Embargo. This has been backed up by radicals in the U.S. like the BLM organization where in a statement they said: “The people of Cuba are being punished by the U.S. government because the country has maintained its commitment to sovereignty and self-determination,”(NBC News). Essentially blaming the American Embargo for Cubas dehumanizing conditions.


In addition there have been violent forms of oppression towards anyone who dares to think differently, leading Cubans to migrate (NBC). The political instability of the island has led to civil unrest. The protest soon led to international demonstrations (NBC). In the U.S the Cuban American population manifested in cities like Miami where they demanded American Military intervention. The call for military intervention came as a result of the regime's strong military response to the manifestors in the Island. The regime sent to the frontline of the manifestation special operation forces called ​​"Black Berets" (BBC). Hundreds of Cubans were arrested, some even being underage (BBC). In a country where the government controls all aspects of life it's to no surprise that protests have been arrested and criminally prosecuted. Many families informed the BBC that they “were given summary trials and that many were sentenced without a defence lawyer present.” This emphasies the level of auhtoritasnism expreinced in Cuba, where the government is able to sentence their citizens to prison without even due process of the law. 

                                                                (Altonna Mirror)

The massive protest in Cuba serves to emphasize the power of the authoritarian regime. The government was able to quickly mobilize to oppress the protestors and cut access to the internet. Shortly after the manifestations the current “president” in power was showcased on national television, as he called for the revolutionaries to combat the protestors (TheNewYorker). Essentially calling for an unfair and bloody civil war, as the Cuban people were defending against the military forces with anything they could find in the streets sticks and rock, while the military had weapons of mass destruction. The protests in Cuba demonstrate the importance of internet access in today’s modern world. With the usage of social plataforma the demonstrations were able to disperse around the island, encouraging others to join the fight for liberation. This also emphasizes the state of low capacity of the Cuban regime, as they are incapable of delivering basic necessities like food and medicine. It’s important to note what this uprising could mean for other authoritarian regimes in the world like in Venezuela, where the seed of “socialism” was planted with the help of the Castro's brothers themselves. And what would it mean if Cubas authoritarian regime falls? Will it be the end of other governments like in Venezuela or Nicaragua since they work to serve each other. Cuba is also facing a challenge of lack of legitimacy as there is not legitimate Cuban head of state (NBC). Fidel Castro, enjoyed nearly 60 years of charismatic legitimacy, always seen as a true hero and father figure of the Cuba of today, but his brother Raul wasn’t that charismatic, and the current “president”, Miguel Diaz- Canel is facing stronger opposition than the other two commander in chief since the start of the Revolution. Its important to emphasize how the idea of charismatic legitimacy can be applied to other country around the world like NorthKorea and China.

                                                                        (BBC)


What can be appreciated from all of this is the start of the end. July 11th of 2021, will go on in the Cuban history books, as a day where fear was lost and the Cuban people started to claim their natural right to life,liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The “socialist” revolution sold to the Cuban people over six decades ago has turned into an authoritarian nightmare, where those in power feed off those in the bottom.


#VivaCubaLibre


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu7Se4pczA4


https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-58255555


https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2021/08/13/cuba-protests-freedom-communism-socialism-july-inflation-food/8099165002/


https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2021/08/13/cuba-protests-freedom-communism-socialism-july-inflation-food/8099165002/