This past Saturday, the Cuban government orchestrated a political rally outside the municipal headquarters of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) in Morón, Ciego de Ávila. This location was the scene of protests that shook the city on Friday night.
The gathering, which state media labeled as an "act of revolutionary reaffirmation," occurred on the morning of March 14 and was led by Julio Heriberto Gómez Casanova, the PCC’s Provincial Committee First Secretary in Ciego de Ávila.
According to official newspaper Invasor, the event was organized "to denounce the vandalism that took place overnight," referring to the demonstrations in the municipality where residents took to the streets to protest power outages, food shortages, and the economic crisis.
Images broadcast by government-affiliated media and social profiles show Party officials and a small crowd of attendees in front of the PCC building, delivering speeches and chanting slogans in support of the regime.
However, several observers noted that many photos from the event were taken with tight camera angles, creating the illusion of a larger turnout than what other images from the same event reveal.
Independent journalist José Raúl Gallego remarked on social media that despite attempts to frame the photos to display greater public backing, the images themselves indicate a limited number of participants at the PCC-organized activity.
The rally took place just hours after a tense night in Morón, where numerous videos circulated on social media capturing groups of residents marching through the streets, chanting against the government, and banging pots and pans.
During the demonstrations, confrontations occurred in front of the municipal Party headquarters, resulting in a street fire and damage to the building.
One of the most dramatic moments of the protest was captured in a widely shared video, showing a young man injured after a gunshot was heard near the PCC building.
In the footage, the young man falls to the ground and is aided by several demonstrators who carry him on a motorcycle to a hospital.
While various social media reports claim the youth was shot by a police officer—and some suggest he might be a minor—official media deny any shooting at protesters and maintain that the young man was injured in a fall.
The official narrative attempts to portray the events as isolated disturbances caused by a small, externally manipulated group.
Meanwhile, government-linked accounts have circulated videos filmed overnight showing empty streets in Morón, accompanied by messages claiming the city is "in total tranquility."
The protests erupted amid growing social discontent on the island, fueled by prolonged blackouts, food shortages, and deteriorating living conditions.
In this context, the swift organization of a political rally outside the very building that was the focal point of the protest seems to be part of the regime's propaganda strategy to project an image of control and popular support following the unrest.
Understanding the Protests in Morón
What triggered the protests in Morón?
The protests in Morón were sparked by ongoing power outages, food shortages, and worsening economic conditions in Cuba.
How did the Cuban government respond to the protests?
In response to the protests, the Cuban government quickly organized a political rally outside the Communist Party headquarters to project an image of control and popular support.
What was the government's narrative about the events?
The official narrative portrayed the events as isolated disturbances caused by a small group of people manipulated from abroad, while denying any police shootings at protesters.