Shocking Night in Cuba: Crowds Chant “Down With Communism” as Protesters Torch Government Offices

Cuba erupted in rare and dramatic unrest overnight as angry demonstrators flooded the streets chanting “Down with communism” and attacking government buildings tied to the island’s ruling Communist Party.

The explosive protests unfolded in the city of Morón, in Cuba’s Ciego de Ávila province, where residents initially gathered to protest worsening power outages and severe food shortages. What began as a peaceful rally quickly spiraled into chaos as the crowd turned its anger toward the regime of Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel.

Videos circulating across social media showed protesters hurling rocks at a government building, smashing windows and shouting “liberty” and “burn it.” Moments later, demonstrators forced their way inside the local Communist Party headquarters.

Footage captured men dragging furniture and documents from the building and throwing them into the street, where a large bonfire was set. Chairs, desks and papers were tossed into the flames as people cheered and chanted for freedom.

Witnesses said the situation escalated further when protesters lit palm branches on fire and hurled them toward the building’s entrance. Shortly afterward, a gunshot rang out, sending people scrambling. Videos posted online appear to show someone lying on the ground afterward, though state media insists no one was shot.

Cuban government outlets quickly pushed back against reports circulating online.

“Media manipulation seeks to sow fear and confusion among our people,” state outlet Vanguardia de Cuba claimed in a statement. “Let’s not fall for provocations.”

Local authorities confirmed several government-run establishments were damaged during the unrest, including a pharmacy and a retail store. State newspaper Invasor said investigators were examining what officials described as “acts of vandalism.”

“What began peacefully, and after an exchange with local authorities, escalated into vandalism against the headquarters of the Municipal Party Committee,” the paper reported.

Police detained at least five people during the confrontation.

The protests mark one of the most visible anti-communist uprisings in Cuba since the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent days, frustration has been boiling over across the island as residents endure rolling blackouts, empty grocery shelves and a collapsing electrical grid.

Earlier this week, crowds in Havana banged pots and pans while shouting “Down with communism,” a slogan rarely heard publicly in the tightly controlled nation. University of Havana students even staged a sit-in after officials abruptly canceled classes during the energy crisis.

Cuba’s struggling economy has been under even greater strain since President Donald Trump returned to the White House and tightened pressure on socialist governments in the region.

After Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro was captured earlier this year by U.S. forces, the Trump administration cut off Venezuelan oil shipments that had been keeping Cuba’s fragile power system afloat. The move created a massive economic chokepoint for the island.

Now the Cuban regime appears to be scrambling.

Officials in Havana confirmed Friday that Díaz-Canel has begun talks with the Trump administration in hopes of easing the economic pressure that has pushed the country toward crisis.

President Trump has made it clear he believes the communist system is nearing its end.

“The Cuban dictatorship will fall pretty soon,” Trump said last week, predicting the regime’s days are numbered. He added that Cuban officials “want to make a deal so badly” as their economy continues to spiral.

Trump has previously floated the idea of what he jokingly called a “friendly takeover of Cuba,” suggesting the United States could help rebuild the island after decades of communist rule.

For now, the anger on Cuba’s streets suggests many ordinary citizens have already reached their breaking point.

And for the first time in years, chants demanding the end of communism are echoing across the island.