Thousands of Cubans have taken to the streets of Havana to protest rising pricing and spreading food shortages in what is one of the largest demonstrations against the Cuban government in recent memory, the Associated Press reports.
Protestors changed “freedom,” “unite,” and “enough” during the three hour demonstration, which blocks main streets in the Cuban capital before police moved in an broke up the protest. A demonstrator flew an American flag, but that was quickly taken and hidden by others fearing an immediate and harsher crackdown by government forces.
Cuba is experiencing a new spike in coronavirus cases after it allowed foreigners to again travel as tourists to the island nation in April. It recently reinstituted a number of rules and regulations for residents and visitors as cases have risen in the past few weeks.
The coronavirus has also disrupted much of Cuba’s critical infrastructure, including food and retail operations, making it difficult to find food and other needed goods.
“We are fed up with the queues, the shortages. That’s why I’m here,” one middle-age protester told The Associated Press. He declined to identify himself for fear of being arrested later.