Cuban influencer Nathalee Ramos, widely recognized on social media as "La Nathy," took to Instagram on Saturday to post a reel harshly criticizing the Cuban regime. In her post, she highlights the misery, power outages, separated families, and hospital deaths due to a lack of supplies.
"Down with the Castro-Canel dictatorship. Too much pain in one nation. Misery, blackouts, divided families, and people of all ages dying in hospitals due to a lack of resources—all because of a failed system," Ramos passionately stated in her post's description.
The 58-second video, featuring the Miami-based Cuban dentist, goes further, declaring, "The Cuban dictatorship definitely lacks dignity, because to have dignity, one must possess a soul, principles, and a minimum of humanity."
Condemning the Supporters of the Regime
Ramos also directly criticizes those who uphold the regime: "You can't ask for empathy from those who have turned suffering into a norm and abuse into a system."
Context of Growing Protests
This post comes amid a wave of protests that have been shaking Cuba since mid-May. Between May 12 and 15, several neighborhoods in Havana—including Luyanó, Marianao, Nuevo Vedado, Santos Suárez, Lawton, Guanabacoa, and San Miguel del Padrón—experienced cacerolazos, or pot-banging demonstrations, as did Santiago de Cuba.
In Marianao, residents blocked the intersection of streets 100 and 51, protesting over 20 hours of power outages. Meanwhile, in San Miguel del Padrón, people gathered in front of the municipal government building chanting, "Electricity and food!"
Another cacerolazo erupted in Reparto Bahía with cries of "Down with the dictatorship!" while Santiago de Cuba saw similar protests in the Reparto Portuondo after enduring more than 12 hours without electricity.
Ramos's Call for Freedom
In her video, Ramos acknowledges witnessing "the entire population taking to the streets with pots and pans for several days" and delivers a direct message: "The desire for freedom is so immense that what you offer the Cuban people is no longer enough."
The video coincides with a UN warning, issued the same Saturday, regarding the humanitarian crisis in Cuba: over 100,000 patients are awaiting delayed surgeries due to power cuts—among them, more than 11,000 children—and around five million people with chronic illnesses are facing interruptions in their treatments.
The Cuban Conflict Observatory documented 1,133 protests in April 2026 alone, marking a 29.5% increase compared to the same month the previous year, with 1,245 protests in March, the highest monthly figure since the July 11 uprisings of 2021.
At least 14 individuals have been detained in Havana since March 6 in connection with the cacerolazos, according to reports from human rights organizations.
Ramos concluded her post with a rallying cry that echoes the sentiments of thousands in the diaspora: "We will not be silenced. Freedom for political prisoners and for the Cuban people. LONG LIVE A FREE CUBA."
Understanding the Cuban Crisis and Protests
What sparked the recent protests in Cuba?
The recent protests in Cuba were ignited by widespread dissatisfaction with prolonged power outages, economic hardship, and the overall failure of the regime to provide basic necessities.
How has Nathalee Ramos contributed to the protests?
Nathalee Ramos, through her social media influence, has been vocal in criticizing the Cuban regime, amplifying the voices of protesters and drawing international attention to the struggles faced by Cuban citizens.
What are the implications of the UN warning regarding Cuba?
The UN warning highlights a severe humanitarian crisis, with delayed medical surgeries and disrupted treatments for chronic illnesses, exacerbating the already dire situation in Cuba.