Millions rally in Cuba on May Day to defend revolution

Militant/Róger Calero

HAVANA — Millions of Cuban workers and youth celebrated May Day — International Workers Day — taking part in rallies and marches across the island. “Every year this event becomes a powerful demonstration of our people’s support to the economic and social system we chose as a sovereign, independent, socialist nation,” said Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento, general secretary of the Central Organization of Cuban Workers (CTC), before the march here stepped off at the Plaza of the Revolution. Among the 600,000 marching were solidarity delegations from around the world, including numerous trade union representatives and a group of mothers and relatives of victims of police killings in the United States, some of whom have been waging the fight against police brutality for many years.

“The Cuban People will triumph” read the large banner at the head of the march, dedicated this year to workers in education. “With the strength of the working class in power,” said Guilarte, “we can assure you that we will raise the banners against injustice, inequality, underdevelopment, and discrimination.”

— RÓGER CALERO AND JACOB PERASSO