A 12 months after Cuba’s historic protests, the federal government’s grip is tighter than ever

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The episode might have remained as a Cuban urban legend, a whispered about moment of rare public dissent on the communist-run island, if not for recent upgrades to the island’s mobile internet.

But that summer, Cubans across the nation were able to live stream and view in real time the unfolding protests in San Antonio de los BaƱos — and join in. Almost immediately across the island, thousands of other Cubans took to the streets, some complaining about the lack of food and medicines, others denouncing high-ranking officials and calling for greater civil liberties.

The unprecedented demonstrations even spread to small cities and towns where there are more horse and carriages on the potholed-streets than automobiles.

Marta and Jorge Perdomo stand in front of a sign on their home in San Jose de las Lajas, Cuba, on June 28, 2022.

In the city of San Jose de las Lajas, Marta Perdomo said her two sons Nadir and Jorge, both teachers, immediately joined protests as soon as news arrived of unrest elsewhere in the country.

“My sons went out because like every Cuban they were desperate over the situation,”…

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