2021 Cuban protests

2021 Cuban protests
2021 Cuban protests
Part of the Cuban dissident movement and protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic
	People in Havana on 11 July
Date	11–17 July 2021
Location	Cuba and localized support rallies around the world, especially in Florida
Caused by	Shortage of food and medicine; Government response to the COVID-19 pandemic; Economic contraction; Authoritarianism and lack of civil liberties;
Goals	Resignation of Miguel Díaz-Canel as First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of Cuba; End of one-party rule; Humanitarian aid and military intervention by the United States;
Methods	Protest marches; Demonstrations; Looting of state-owned shops; Rioting; Social media activism;
Resulted in	Crackdown; United States sanctions against Cuban officials; Enactment of Decree–Law 35; Protests continue to break out in some localities;
Concessions	Government temporarily lifts limit on food and medicine that can be imported without duties;
Parties
Opposition Assembly of the Cuban Resistance; Patriotic Union of Cuba; San Isidro Movement; Anti-government protesters;	Government Communist Party of Cuba; National Revolutionary Police; Pro-government counter-protesters;
Lead figures
	José Daniel Ferrer; Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara; Miguel Díaz-Canel; Salvador Valdés Mesa; Manuel Marrero Cruz; Esteban Lazo Hernández; Álvaro López Miera; Raúl Castro;
Casualties
Death(s)	1 protester dead (5 according to Cuba Decide)
Injuries	A few police officers, protesters, and counter-protesters
Arrested	~400 (according to Human Rights Watch); more than 500 (according to Cubalex)

A series of protests against the Cuban government and the Communist Party of Cuba began on 11 July 2021, triggered by a shortage of food and medicine and the government's response to the resurgent COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba. The protests were the largest anti-government demonstrations since the Maleconazo in 1994. Protesters' motivations included resentment at the Cuban government's authoritarianism and curbs on civil liberties, the government's COVID-19 pandemic lockdown rules, and failure to fulfill their promised economic and political reforms. The poor state of the Cuban economy also called for major protests all over the country. Cuban dissidents have placed the responsibility for these problems on the government's economic policies and abuse of human rights.

Many international figures called for dialogue, asking that the Cuban authorities respect the protesters' freedom of assembly and peaceful demonstrations. Protesters abroad called for the United States to provide humanitarian aid to help the citizens. One person was confirmed dead during a clash between protesters and police. The dissident organization of Cuba recorded an estimate of five deaths.

The Cuban government responded to the demonstrations with a crackdown, making hundreds of arrests and charging at least 710 Cubans with crimes, including sedition. Some demonstrators were given lengthy prison sentences in trials. These government acts were criticized by Amnesty International, activists and families as unfair. As a result of the protests, the Cuban government lifted some import restrictions, and the United States government imposed new sanctions on Cuban officials.