As Cuban government cuts off internet service, communicating with family becomes harder

Protesters in Cuba and across the globe are calling for change in Cuba after rising COVID cases and the culmination of years of an oppressive regime.

In Miami, a crowd shut down the Palmetto Expressway. In Southwest Florida, Cubans are also gathering and hope they will be heard miles away.

These protests are calling for freedom on the island nation.

Authorities in Cuba appear to have blocked access to social media sites.

And on a normal day, it’s hard to communicate with family in Cuba.

But now, since the government controls cell service and the internet, loved ones are cut off from communicating.

Adrian Arteaga hasn’t heard from his grandmother since the protests started.

“I talked to one of my other aunts I think it was on Sunday when everything started,” Arteaga said. “A lot of people didn’t know what was going on exactly at that moment because it was the same day but they knew there was something big going on. We haven’t spoke since then.”

Not being able to talk to them is tough because he has no idea if his family is OK.

It’s also hard for Arteaga not to be able to tell his family that people in the U.S. are rooting for freedom in Cuba.

“We always thought we were alone so that’s why many of us thought the only way was exiting the island,” Arteaga said. “I don’t want that to happen; we need to let them know that they are not alone.”

The Communist government shut down the internet but some people have found private networks to post what’s happening on social media.

“There’s people dying in the streets at the hands of the police,” he said. “The government is denying the help to those that are hurt.”

And so Arteaga and hundreds of other supporters in Southwest Florida rally. They record it and send it to their families.

“We could do more, whatever we’re doing is good but it’s not enough,” Arteaga said.

In Cuba, people rely on word of mouth while others have private networks and are able to make quick phone calls.

Like Arteaga, many Cubans in Southwest Florida are having a hard time communicating with family.

In the meantime, they say if the people in Cuba are protesting in the streets they will continue to protest here too.