From the first chord to the last applause, the national act commemorating the 73rd anniversary of the assault on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks, held at the Plaza de la Revolución in the city of Pinar del Río, was a reaffirmation of this people’s rebellious spirit against any attempt to take away their independence.
Art was wielded as the “sword of the nation” in times of siege against self-determination. Hosting the July 26 activities, 50 years after the province first welcomed the commemoration and coinciding with the centenary of Fidel’s birth, underscored the historical significance for the locals.
“In this land, every day multiplies the effort and will to overcome shortcomings,” affirmed Yamilé Ramos Cordero, member of the Central Committee and First Secretary of the Party in the province. She highlighted that this is done while overcoming “hurricanes, drought, energy contingencies, and a tightened blockade.”
She stressed that the recognition belongs to the “humble, noble, and very hardworking people,” pointing to achievements such as the construction of more than 7,000 curing houses for tobacco after the devastating passage of Hurricane Ian in 2022, as well as the installation of a thousand photovoltaic systems for agricultural irrigation.
She added: “to the men and women who have worked hard in the construction and assembly of four photovoltaic parks, which complete a capacity of 87 megawatts across the territory; to those advancing the energy transition in key sectors such as Communications, Agriculture, Public Health, Food Industry, Transport, and vital service centers for the population.”
She emphasized: “in the face of the blockade, we respond with more work, more unity. In the face of lies, we respond with the truth of our history and the righteousness of our cause.”
Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez conveyed a message from Army General Raúl Castro to the people of Pinar del Río: “Dear people of Pinar del Río, receive this July 26 my affection and recognition for having earned, through your effort, dedication to the revolutionary cause, and creative work, the great honor of being the central venue for the 73rd Anniversary of the Assault on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks, National Rebellion Day. A strong embrace to all, Raúl Castro Ruz.”
The President noted that it was the first time the commemoration did not include the presence of Commander of the Revolution Ramiro Valdés. He defined current challenges as a new Moncada and acknowledged the work system implemented in the territory, among other aspects that earned the province the venue.
He condemned the most recent U.S. sanctions against Cuba, particularly those targeting the Public Health system, stating that it is a global war against the left and Cuba as its capital. He described them as excuses for a genocidal policy that results in deaths due to lack of medicines once produced nationally, thousands of pending surgeries, untreated cancer patients—including 1,200 children—and an increase in infant mortality by more than four percentage points, figures that represent lives.
He reiterated that those who designed this suffocation policy are responsible for the suffering of the Cuban people and denounced those who fear Washington’s power more than the judgment of history. He contrasted this with the solidarity shown, which he emphatically thanked. He underlined that Cuba is not a danger to the region, but a nation that graduated more than 30,000 professionals in various fields during the difficult academic year that just ended, among them five Americans and more than twenty Palestinians.
He called on young people to be protagonists of their time, noting that just as the generation that assaulted Moncada was the centenary of Martí’s birth, they are the centenary of Fidel. He urged them to carry out the necessary transformations for the good of all.
He stressed that defending Cuba from the cruelty of its oppressors cannot wait, that doing so is a struggle against hegemonism and for peace. The people of Pinar del Río demonstrated that the emancipation won with the blood of their best sons is not negotiable.
