Cuban activist Mireya Jiménez, who resides in Trinidad, Sancti Spíritus, released a video on Instagram last Wednesday along with Ilsa Ramos to clear up misunderstandings regarding the intent of their protests. Their demands go beyond requests for water, food, or medicine; they are making a bold political plea for liberty and the end of communism in Cuba.
"We are not making these videos to ask for water, or food, or medicine. We are demanding freedom for Cuba, we want freedom," Jiménez asserted.
This clarification was necessary due to misinterpretations that reduced their statements to mere humanitarian aid requests. However, the core message of the activists—united under the slogan "with Freedom we solve everything"—is inherently political.
Ilsa emphatically stated, "We don't want communism anymore. They have left us in poverty, in darkness. This is an unsustainable situation. The dictatorship clings to power, and it's the everyday citizens who suffer."
Jiménez concluded the video, reinforcing her message: "Did you understand perfectly well? We want freedom!"
Ilsa Ramos, Jiménez’s fellow activist, is the mother of a 15-year-old with neuropsychiatric disorders, whose plight they publicly highlighted in April 2026. The teenager was denied medical treatment during a blackout, while his mother had gone without sleep for four days.
On that occasion, Jiménez directly addressed Miguel Díaz-Canel: "Look, this is the state of my people. Stop talking about medical prowess. This is criminal."
Their clarification comes amidst a wave of protests that rocked Cuba throughout May and June of 2026, featuring cacerolazos that escalated into tire burnings and street blockades in various neighborhoods of Havana and Santiago de Cuba.
The primary catalyst was the worsening power outages, with blackouts lasting over 20 hours daily. Protesters combined demands for basic services with cries of "Down with the dictatorship!" and "Homeland and Life!"
Social media has also been flooded with protest videos, notably those from Mireya, fervently calling for "Freedom for Cuba."
Understanding the Cuban Protests and Activist Demands
What are Mireya Jiménez and Ilsa Ramos advocating for?
Mireya Jiménez and Ilsa Ramos are calling for political change in Cuba, specifically seeking freedom and the end of the communist regime, rather than merely requesting humanitarian aid.
What sparked the recent protests in Cuba?
The protests were primarily triggered by worsening power outages, with blackouts exceeding 20 hours daily, coupled with demands for basic services and political freedom.
How have the activists expressed their demands?
The activists have used social media platforms like Instagram to release videos articulating their demands for political freedom and criticizing the current regime.