The Cuban communist regime is facing its greatest challenge after 6 decades of mostly uncontested rule. The protests may have started over shortages and hardship but Cubans are expressing a loud no to 60 years of communist repression and mismanagement, one that makes no room for accountability. As expected, the government has responded with a crackdown, arresting dozens as thousand rally against it in Havana and across the rest of Cuba. This information is from the British Broadcasting Corporation. Here is an excerpt:

Unauthorised public gatherings are illegal in Cuba and protests are rare.

Images on social media showed what appeared to be security forces detaining, beating and pepper-spraying some of the protesters.

Cuba’s president labelled those protesting “mercenaries”.

In a four-hour-long televised address President Miguel Díaz-Canel slammed protestors as “counter-revolutionaries” while his foreign minister alleged the demonstrations had been financed and instigated by the United States.

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