July 26 More than 200,000 workers, farmers, students, and others participated in a rally in the eastern province of Holguín to mark the 56th anniversary of the assault on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks in eastern Cuba.

“Throughout the entire country, the capacity for resistance, organization, and solidarity of the Cuban people has been demonstrated” in these difficult months and hard work, said Cuban president Raúl Castro in his address to the crowd. He was referring to the mobilizations by working people in Cuba to confront the destruction left by the three devastating hurricanes that hit the country last year.

The Cuban president highlighted the reconstruction efforts so far, and other challenges facing the Cuban people.

Rallies to mark this historic event were also held throughout the island. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the triumph of the Cuban Revolution.

—RÓGER CALERO