On Friday, graffiti with messages opposing former president Raúl Castro appeared in the town of Dos Caminos, located in the San Luis municipality of Santiago de Cuba. The messages, scrawled in black pencil on what seems to be a residential wall, read: "Down with Raúl" and "Ping... there's hunger."
This incident, first reported by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, occurred in the early morning hours. Such expressions of dissent have become increasingly common in public areas across the island, highlighting some citizens' dissatisfaction with the ongoing economic crisis.
In Cuba, protest expressions are typically suppressed. Authorities respond with investigators, dogs, and specialized personnel to identify and imprison the demonstrators. Last May, the regime sentenced young Cuban Jorge Luis Boada Valdés to nine years in prison, accused of creating a large anti-regime sign that appeared in the Santos Suárez neighborhood in January 2022.
Cuba's Growing Public Dissent
What messages were found in the graffiti in Santiago de Cuba?
The graffiti messages read "Down with Raúl" and "Ping... there's hunger."
Who initially reported the graffiti incident?
The incident was first reported by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada.
How does the Cuban government typically respond to public protests?
The Cuban government usually suppresses protests, deploying investigators, dogs, and specialized personnel to identify and imprison demonstrators.