High-profile Cuban musicians show rare public support to protesters

Historically musicians steered clear of addressing political topics that risk reprisals at home but Sunday's explosion changed that

High-profile Cuban musicians from salsa band Los Van Van and jazz pianist Chucho Valdes to pop star Leoni Torres have offered rare public support to protesters and criticized Communist authorities' handling of the worst unrest in decades.

Thousands of Cubans joined rare protests nationwide on Sunday over shortages, Covid-19 and political rights. The government blamed US-financed counter-revolutionaries" exploiting economic hardship caused by US sanctions.