Rebellion Day celebrated in Ciego de Ávila, Cuba

Raúl Castro and José R. Machado Ventura today in Ciego de Ávila

Raúl Castro, and Machado Ventura, President and VP of the Republic of Cuba presided over the official celebrations of the 58^th Anniversary of the attacks to the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes garrisons in Santiago de Cuba and Bayamo respectively, on National Rebellion Day, which this time took place in the Máximo Gómez Revolution Square in the city of Ciego de Ávila.

Party, state and government officials

On July 26, 1953, a group of young Cubans under the leadership of Fidel Castro attacked these military fortresses in an act of rebelliousness and heroism unknown to the island then. From a military stand point, the assault failed, since most of the survivors were either massacred or imprisoned after the actions and the military goal was not achieved. However, the attack was the spark that set the fire of the Cuban Revolution, on account of the awareness it brought of the prevailing impoverishment, illiteracy, unemployment and the extreme inequality in that moment in Cuba, which also depended economically and politically from the U.S., as described by Fidel Castro in his declaration “La Historia me absolverá”, during the trial for his part in the attacks.

The people of Ciego de Ávila representing Cubans

After the military occupation of 1898, the United States had imposed amendments to our constitution which allowed them to intervene in Cuba at any time they dimmed it necessary. When the pseudo-republic was born in 1902, it was a sad caricature; Cuba had lost its dignity and independence.

President Raúl Castro Ruz

The actions of that day of 1953 when the Movimiento Revolucionario 26 de Julio was born, was the inevitable result of the desperate situation under which Cuba was living. Under the leadership of Fidel and after an unequal struggle in the mountains of the Sierra Maestra, they would triumph on January 1^st, 1959. 

Cultural presentation

Fifty-eight years after, the Cuban Revolution, not exempt of mistakes because it is human and a live social process, is strong and vibrant and zealously guards our most precious assets: our independence and dignity. Under necessary economic transformation, Cuba advances to a new future of hope and prosperity, and despite the continuous hostility and aggression of the U.S., the Cuban Revolution will live on because as Fidel said “that 26 of July we learned how to turn defeat into victory”.