Vol. 73/No. 48      December 14, 2009

The march, an annual event highlighting a key chapter in Cuba’s history of revolutionary struggles, was organized by the University Students Federation (FEU), Federation of High School Students, and Union of Young Communists.

The colonial authorities falsely accused the eight medical students—youths between the ages of 16 and 21—of desecrating the grave of a Spanish writer loyal to the crown. Their execution by firing squad was an attempt to terrorize and quell the widespread support for independence among young Cubans at that time. In fact, the killings only fueled popular anger against Spanish colonial rule.

On that same day in 1871, five black Cubans, armed with rifles, were killed as they attempted to rescue the medical students from Spanish soldiers. (An article from the November 26 issue of the Cuban daily Granma recounting the events of 1871 will appear in the next issue of the Militant.) The five belonged to an Abakuá group, a secret society organized by blacks—both free and enslaved—to defend themselves and protect their culture in face of slavery and colonial rule. One of the five was an hermano de leche (“milk brother”—nursed by the same woman) of one of the eight students.

A public commemoration of the Abakuá martyrs—the first such broadly sponsored commemoration in Cuba—was also held November 27. It was called by the Union of Writers and Artists, FEU, and a number of other organizations. Addressing the student marchers at the foot of the university steps, FEU president Gladys Gutiérrez noted that the Cuban people, through their socialist revolution, have gained control of their destiny. “These streets, like those of all of Cuba, have owners: they are ours,” she said.

The new generations in Cuba today “have many reasons to continue the revolution and maintain socialism,” Gutiérrez added. “The shortages, things we lack, and imperfections, acknowledged by the leadership of our country, will not be resolved under any other system, nor through intervention against the sovereignty of our country of any kind,” she said. “We are the ones who will improve socialism ourselves, here in Cuba.”

After Gutiérrez’s remarks, students poured down the university steps, chanting slogans and waving banners from their schools—University of Havana, Enrique José Varona Teacher Training Institute, Higher Institute of Industrial Design, University of Technical Science, and numerous other universities and high schools.
 
 
Related articles:
Supreme Court upholds ban on book about Cuba
Stockholm meeting hears about case of Cuban Five
1971 raid on Cuban town, one of many U.S. assaults
Eyewitnesses address Cuban Five meeting  
 
 
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