A teacher from the town of Morón, located in the province of Ciego de Ávila, has become the center of a heated debate on social media after a video surfaced showing her reprimanding students over recent protests in the area. In the footage, she claims that Cuba “is not a dictatorship.”
The video, shared on Instagram by the account @un_martitodurako8_live_oficial, captures the teacher addressing a group of students, demanding their attention while harshly criticizing the demonstrations that took place in the municipality just days earlier.
“Look over here, I’m speaking. Remember well: this is not a dictatorship. If it were, we wouldn’t all be here,” the teacher states in one part of the video.
Throughout her speech, she defends the Cuban political system and questions the motives of those who participated in the protests.
“This is socialism, with all its difficulties and mistakes,” she asserts, suggesting that the protestors were influenced or funded from abroad.
The teacher also condemns the damage reported during a protest against a pharmacy, insisting that "there are medications there," despite widespread shortages across the country. She questions why some participants targeted state facilities.
“Why did they throw stones at state shops or other places? Why didn’t they target a private business?” she asks in the video, warning that she will inform various student groups about the incident.
At another point in the recording, she issues a direct threat: “If any student is involved in this situation, we’ll see what happens,” she declares.
The footage began circulating shortly after dozens of Cubans took to the streets of Morón on a Friday night to protest prolonged power outages, food shortages, and worsening living conditions.
Videos posted on social media show groups of residents marching through several streets of the town, chanting slogans like “Freedom!” and banging on pots and pans.
In one live stream, a participant encourages other citizens to join the protest. "Morón and Ciego de Ávila are out in the streets demanding freedom,” he is heard saying.
The demonstration moved through different parts of the city, eventually reaching near a police station. The videos also capture complaints about the economic hardships faced by the population.
This social unrest, depicted in these videos, is linked to state repression and the severe economic and energy crisis plaguing the country. In several provinces, power outages last more than 20 hours a day, while food shortages and high inflation persist.
The protests in Morón add to a series of recent expressions of discontent across various Cuban localities, where citizens have taken to the streets to demand an end to the blackouts and improvements in their living conditions.
Understanding the Protests in Morón
What triggered the protests in Morón?
The protests in Morón were sparked by prolonged blackouts, food shortages, and deteriorating living conditions, which have caused widespread frustration among residents.
How did the teacher react to the protests?
The teacher criticized the protests, defended the Cuban political system, and questioned the motives of the protestors, suggesting they were influenced from abroad.
What are the main issues facing the Cuban population?
Cubans are facing severe economic and energy crises, with power outages lasting over 20 hours in some areas, coupled with food shortages and high inflation.