Inside the great Cuban exodus

On the morning of July 11, 2021, a group of a few dozen people began marching through the streets of San Antonio de los Baños, a small city south of Havana. As they made their way toward the city center, more and more people joined the parade, some shouting anti-government slogans such as “We are not afraid!” “Freedom!” and “Down with the dictatorship!”

By the time 27-year-old Yoan de la Cruz joined the march, grabbed his cellphone, and turned on Facebook Live, the crowd had swelled to hundreds and then thousands.