(CNN) – Thousands of Cubans took to the streets in an extraordinary demonstration on Sunday to complain about the lack of freedom and the worsening economic situation, with protesters speaking to CNN, as well as witnesses in videos showing protests in several cities across the country.
In the city of San Antonio de los Banos, a suburb of Havana, hundreds of people showed up with heavy police presence to broadcast their complaints.
The footage will show the demonstrations seen here on Sunday in various parts of the country, including the capital Havana.
An unidentified resident told CNN that residents had been experiencing power outages for a week and that it had “triggered” a growing outrage.
Videos uploaded on social media showed other protests in a few towns and cities on the island.
In some videos, people shouted that they were “not afraid” or that they should have access to freedom or corona virus vaccines.
People take part in a demonstration in Havana on July 11, 2021 against the government of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Colonel. Credit: Yamil Lage / AFP via Getty Images
The already struggling Cuban economy has been hit hard by a sharp drop in tourism and trade imports during the epidemic. On Sunday, Cuban health officials recorded a single-day increase in new COVID-19 cases and deaths.