Anti-government protesters attacked a Communist Party office in central Cuba early Saturday morning, a state-run newspaper reported, in a rare outpouring of public dissent triggered by power outages compounded by the US-imposed oil embargo.
A rally against power outages and food shortages appeared to begin peacefully in the town of Moron on Friday night, then turned violent in the early hours of Saturday morning, according to Invasor newspaper.
Videos on social media showed a large fire and people throwing rocks through the windows of a building, while voices shouted “freedom” in the background.
“Acts of Vandalism”
Reuters managed to verify the location of a video in Moron, which is on the northern coast of Cuba, about 400 kilometers east of the capital Havana, close to the tourist resort of Cayo Coco. Checks showed that the event was recent, but the exact date could not be determined.
“What initially started peacefully, after an exchange with the local authorities, turned into acts of vandalism against the headquarters of the Municipal Committee of the Party”, declared the Invasor newspaper.
🚨BREAKING —> The people of #Cuba have just set fire to the Communist Party's Headquarters in the eastern town of #Moron.
The Cuban people have had enough of the brutal dictatorship! pic.twitter.com/q9j6unDFh3
— Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) March 14, 2026
“A smaller group threw stones at the building and set fire to the street using furniture from the reception area,” the paper added.
Growing protests against the regime
Violent protesters also targeted several other state institutions in the area, including a pharmacy and a government market, according to the report.
“The image circulating shows the scene of the protest, but it is important for the public to know the truth: no one was injured by the gunfire,” Vanguardia de Cuba said on X.
“Media manipulation aims to spread fear and confusion among our people. Let us not fall prey to provocations,” added Vanguardia.
State media said police detained five people and a drunken participant who fell was being treated for injuries in hospital.
Over the past week, several small groups of Havana residents have been banging pots to protest prolonged power outages.
On Monday, students staged a sit-in on the steps of the University of Havana after the government suspended attendance at classes blaming the US oil blockade. The lack of fuel has greatly reduced public transportation, making it difficult, if not impossible, for teachers and students to meet for classes.
The city of Moron was also the site of significant protests during the July 11, 2021, anti-government riots, the largest since Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution.
