Protests and pot-banging in Centro Havana: Havana on alert while the internet collapses

This afternoon of Thursday, June 19, 2026, the independent journalist Mag Jorge Castro published a last-minute notice in "The internet connection is almost zero." The message, accompanied by a video, spread quickly among Cuban users abroad while connectivity deteriorated within the island, making it difficult to contrast the exact scope of what happened.

What is known about this afternoon's report

According to the post by Mag Jorge Castro in and pots - the form of protest known as cacerolazo - and a fire on public roads was reported. The author himself warns that the internet connection on the island is "almost zero", which fits with the pattern of access restrictions observed in previous days of protest.

At the time of writing this note, there is no official statement from the Cuban government about this specific episode of June 19, nor confirmed numbers of detainees or injuries. MARGENEZ plays the original video from the source above; The exact geolocation of the clip and its outcome remain without independent confirmation due to the instability of the network in Cuba.

A wave that is not limited to a single neighborhood

This afternoon's episode is part of a chain of protests over blackouts that has been shaking Havana and other cities for weeks. Independent media and activists have documented demonstrations in municipalities such as Centro Habana, Santos Suárez, Playa, El Vedado, Cayo Hueso, Regla, Guanabacoa, Marianao, Boyeros and San Miguel del Padrón, as well as banging pots and pans in Santa Clara (Villa Clara).

Among the most visible episodes of recent days, CiberCuba and América TeVé gathered a massive protest at the intersection of Manrique and Reina, in Centro Habana, a few blocks from the National Capitol: neighbors hit cauldrons, burned a garbage container and chanted "Turn on the light!" Witnesses reported police deployment in the area.

The slogans have been escalating. Where at first the demand for electricity, water and food predominated, in neighborhoods like El Cotorro (June 10) shouts of "Down with the dictatorship!" were heard, as reported by CiberCuba. In San Lázaro, Central Havana (June 3), protesters pushed back the police during a nighttime protest, according to the same sources.

Blackouts, reforms and social tension

Cuba is going through a severe energy crisis: power cuts of up to 20 hours or more in numerous neighborhoods, according to America TeVé. The lack of power is added to the shortage of food, medicine and drinking water—claims that appear repeated in the cacerolazos, as documented by Cuba Herald with the slogan "Current, water, food and freedom."

The climate of protest coincides with the package of 176 economic liberalization measures approved on June 18 by the National Assembly—reforms that MARGENEZ analyzed separately—and with the announcement of reductions in ministries and changes in subsidies. For many Cubans, however, the legislative measures do not translate into immediate improvements in the electricity supply.

Human rights organizations have documented repression associated with these protests. Cubalex registered at least 14 arrests in Havana linked to demonstrations due to blackouts since March 6, 2026, as cited by CiberCuba. There are no updated figures for June 19.

Why it's hard to verify right now

Three factors complicate real-time coverage:

• Almost zero Internet, according to Mag Jorge Castro's own report and the pattern observed in previous protests.
• Absence of official coverage regarding arrests or immediate outcomes.
• Dependency on videos circulated on networks, many recorded at night and with limited quality, which require geolocation and context before presenting them as confirmed facts.

MARGENEZ will verify any new information with at least two independent sources before elevating it to “Verified”. Until then, this piece remains in the In Development category.