Anti-government demonstrators violently stormed a Communist Party headquarters in northern Cuba during the early morning hours of Saturday, according to state media reports, marking an unusual display of public unrest sparked by deteriorating power outages and worsening U.S. economic sanctions.
The demonstration began as a peaceful gathering Friday evening in Moron, a coastal city located approximately 250 miles east of Havana near the Cayo Coco tourist destination, but escalated into violence by Saturday morning, the state-controlled Invasor newspaper reported.
Social media footage captured large flames and individuals hurling stones through building windows while voices could be heard calling out “liberty” in the background. Reuters could not independently verify the authenticity of the videos purportedly showing the disturbance in Moron.
The escalating tensions come as the United States has intensified economic pressure on Cuba throughout this year following the January capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who serves as Cuba’s primary international ally and economic supporter.
President Trump has eliminated Venezuelan petroleum deliveries to Cuba and issued threats of imposing tariffs on any nation that provides oil to the island nation, creating additional strain on an economy already facing severe shortages of food, fuel, electricity, and medical supplies.
Trump has recently made multiple public statements suggesting Cuba is approaching economic collapse or seeking negotiations with the United States. Cuban officials announced Friday that discussions with Washington have commenced in an effort to ease the current crisis.
Violent public demonstrations are extremely uncommon in Cuba. While Cuba’s 2019 constitution provides citizens with demonstration rights, specific legislation defining those rights remains stalled in the legislative process, creating legal uncertainty for street protesters.
“What initially began peacefully, and after an exchange with local authorities, turned into acts of vandalism against the headquarters of the Municipal Party Committee,” the Invasor newspaper said.
“A smaller group of people stoned the entrance of the building and started a fire in the street with furniture from the reception area,” it added.
The vandalism extended to multiple other government-operated facilities in the surrounding area, including a pharmacy and a state-run market, according to the report.
One unconfirmed social media video captured what appeared to be gunfire, with the camera showing someone on the ground. However, the state media outlet Vanguardia de Cuba refuted online claims that police had shot the individual.
“The image circulating shows the scene of the protest, but it’s important for the public to know the truth: no one was injured by gunfire,” Vanguardia de Cuba said on X.
“Media manipulation seeks to sow fear and confusion among our people. Let’s not fall for provocations,” it added.
Authorities arrested five individuals, while one intoxicated participant suffered injuries from falling and received treatment at a nearby hospital.
Throughout the past week, small groups of Havana residents have engaged in pot-banging protests against extended power outages.
University students conducted a sit-in demonstration Monday on the University of Havana steps after officials canceled in-person classes, citing the U.S. oil embargo as the cause. Fuel shortages have severely limited public transportation, creating significant obstacles for educators and students attempting to attend classes.
Moron previously experienced substantial protests during the July 11, 2021 anti-government demonstrations, which represented the largest civil unrest since Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution.
