Maleconazo


The August 1994 uprising or Maleconazo uprising was a protest against government policies in Cuba. It occurred on August 5, 1994.

Events

Background

had fallen into an economic crisis because of the recent collapse of the Soviet Union and old American embargo. Many citizens began to try to leave the country. Some had even begun to steal boats to flee. The clash began as police began securing boats to prevent theft.

Riot

Protesters' rage caused by the Special Period was vented into vandalism and violence, Many hotels were damaged, the police and communist party members were called in to disperse the crowd. Hundreds of protesters took to streets in Havana, some chanting "Libertad!". The police eventually dispersed them all.

Aftermath

After the protests many Cubans attempted to flee the island. More than 35,000 left, many using rafts to float off the island to the United States. The U.S. president Bill Clinton enacted the wet foot dry foot policy as a reaction to the exodus. Castro came to support the exodus, viewing those who left as counterrevolutionaries.