In a dramatic display of defiance, protesters filled the streets of Cuba, expressing their frustration in a rare act of rebellion against the nation’s authoritarian regime. The demonstrations, marked by chants of “Down with Communism,” escalated into violence as agitators targeted local Communist Party offices.

The unrest unfolded in Morón, located in the Ciego de Ávila region, spilling into the early hours of Saturday. This uprising followed similar protests in Havana, as citizens voiced their discontent with President Miguel Diaz-Canel’s leadership amid ongoing power outages and food shortages.

President Diaz-Canel, feeling the pressure of the nation’s economic struggles, announced on Friday that he had initiated discussions with the Trump administration. These talks aimed to mitigate the severe economic crisis, exacerbated by the U.S. halting Venezuelan oil shipments to Cuba.

However, tensions reached a boiling point when the peaceful rally turned violent. Social media footage captured scenes of chaos as protesters hurled rocks at a local government building, accompanied by cries of “burn it” and “liberty.”

The demonstrators escalated their actions by storming the Morón government building, where they seized documents and furniture. According to the Miami Herald, men were seen tossing furniture from the building’s upper floors, which was then set on fire in the street, creating a blazing bonfire.

Footage showed men throwing furniture from the upper floor of the building, before the items were then tossed into a bonfire that was set ablaze in the street, the Miami Herald reported.

Chaos further erupted when two men set fire to palm tree branches and threw them into the office building, prompting chants of “freedom” from people nearby — followed by a single gunshot, according to the outlet. 

It is unclear if anyone was injured, although videos online show a person lying on the ground after the gunshot rang out. State media outlet Vanguardia de Cuba disputed online reports that the person had been shot by police.

“Media manipulation seeks to sow fear and confusion among our ⁠people. Let’s not fall for provocations,” the state media outlet added.

Following the chaos, local state newspaper, Invasor, said that Cuban authorities were investigating the “vandalism” and noted other state-run establishments were also impacted, including a pharmacy and a store.

“What began peacefully, and after an exchange with local authorities, escalated into vandalism against the headquarters of the Municipal Party Committee,” Invasor wrote.

“A smaller group of people threw stones at the building’s entrance and started a fire in the street, burning furniture from the reception area.” 

Local police detained five people during the protests. 

The raging uprising this week was the first seen on the shores of Cuba since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Residents in Havana were chanting “down with communism” while banging pots and pans over the extended blackouts earlier in the week — and students staged a sit in at the University of Havana Monday after the government canceled classes, while blaming a US oil blockade for a near collapse of Cuba’s electrical grid. 

After Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro was captured by US forces in January — President Trump cut off Venezuelan oil shipments to Cuba which created an economic chokepoint for the country’s already faltering electrical grid. 

Trump predicted the communist dictatorship in Cuba ‘will fall pretty soon’ last week and claimed the Communist country ‘wants to make a deal so badly’ — after he previously warning the US might launch a ‘friendly takeover of Cuba.’

With Post wires