This is what the historic anti-government protests look like in Cuba

Anti-government protests erupted in Cuba this week over lack of access to food and basic medical supplies amid rising COVID cases.

The country has suffered from massive inflation and lengthy blackouts, as long-standing US sanctions that restrict access to commodities and finance, and decades of government corruption and mismanagement, have been compounded by a decline in tourism during the pandemic.

The protests began on Sunday and quickly spread across the country as thousands of Cubans are frustrated by hunger and shortages of basic supplies. “Our children are starving,” a protester shouted in a video posted to Facebook. Another video on twitter appeared to show protesters calling for ‘change the system’.

The protests are the largest in recent memory, and government forces, which are generally quick to quell protests, initially struggled to maintain control. Some musicians, who, along with the artists, were cracked down for speaking, also made statements in support of the protesters.

Intermittent internet shutdowns, harassment and detention of journalists made it difficult to verify events on the ground; however, photos and videos emerged showing uniformed and plainclothes officers beating protesters with batons and seeming to shoot on them. At least one person was killed and Amnesty International said at least 150 other people were reported missing and may have been detained.

Although the government appears to have relaxed its stance somewhat, by lifting a tax on the importation of goods to the island, that may not be enough to quell the protests. “No, we don’t want crumbs. We want freedom. Blood did not flow in the Cuban streets to be able to import a few more suitcases ”, tweeted blogger and government critic Yoaní Sánchez.