HAVANA, May 13 (Reuters) - Protests broke out across the Cuban capital of Havana on Wednesday evening as the city confronted its worst rolling blackouts in decades amid a U.S. blockade that has starved the island of fuel.
Crowds of hundreds of angry Cubans poured onto the streets in several outlying neighborhoods, blocking roads with burning piles of rubbish, banging pots and shouting “Turn on the lights!” and “The people, united, will never be defeated!”
Reuters witnessed multiple groups of peaceful protesters in locations across the city, marking the largest single night of demonstrations in Havana since the energy crisis took hold.
The shortages and blackouts have dramatically worsened since January when U.S. President Donald Trump, who has said he wants to oust Cuba’s communist-run government, imposed an embargo and threatened tariffs on any nation supplying the country with fuel.
Havana resident Rodolfo Alonso, shirtless and sweating, said he had decided to protest after his neighborhood of Playa went for more than 40 hours without electricity.
