On this episode of the It's Going Down podcast, we speak with an anarchist from Cuba and a Cuban-American anarchist living in Miami about the recent wave of protests which have swept the island over the last few weeks. While the demonstrations took everyone by surprise, our guests argue that they are historic in that they represent a ground swell of working-class anger that has manifested itself in demonstrations, clashes with the police, and looting; activity which has not taken place on the island for decades.

Throughout out discussion we speak on the context of the revolt: both in terms of the US embargo, economic crisis, power shut-offs, and the COVID-19 pandemic, the class and racial makeup of the demonstrations, the impact of growing anger at police brutality and State authority, the historic division between the countryside and the urban centers, the role, size, and scope of reactionary, pro-US, and pro-intervention currents within the protests, repression of protesters, including anarchists and other anti-capitalists, and a discussion on how the Left has responded to the protests here in the United States.

We close by speaking about the small but growing anarchist movement in Cuba and how people can support autonomous and mutual aid projects there, as well as the importance of remembering Cuban anarchist history.

More Info: Support mutual aid programs here, support Cuban anarchists here, CrimethInc. interview with Cuban anarchists here