New York, 27 July 2018. Organized by the Movement of Solidarity with Cuba, an emotional event to commemorate the 65th Anniversary of the Attacks on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Barracks took place in the evening of July 27. That was a space to remember the blood of the fallen in such a heroic deed, and also to celebrate the many achievements of the Cuban Revolution since its triumph in 1959.
The event was presided over by the Deputy Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, Ana Silvia Rodríguez Abascal, and was attended by more than 120 representatives of the organizations joined into the Movement of Solidarity with Cuba, which include New York-New Jersey Cuba Si Coalition, IFCO/Pastors for Peace, Casa de las Américas, Socialist Worker Party (SWP), Workers World Party (WWP), Committee of Correspondence, Party for Socialism & Liberation (PSL), Committee Call to Action on Puerto Rico, and the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), whose headquarters served as the setting for the activity. Also present were Puerto Rican and Dominican organizations, as well as trade unions, solidarity groups with Venezuela and representatives of the Sao Paulo Forum.
More than 15 speakers took the floor to celebrate the 65th Anniversary of the Attack on the Moncada Barracks and the Cuban Revolution, including Ike Nahem, representative of the New York-New Jersey Cuba Si Coalition, who began the event by recalling that it was an honor for all those gathered to celebrate the historic date in the very heart of imperialism, which has tried so hard to defeat the socialist system that the island has determined to follow.
Young generations of the solidarity movement with Cuba, such as Manolo and Claudia de los Santos, expressed that the Caribbean nation is a forum of light for equality and respect for human rights, further noting that impressively a small island of few resources is able to distribute equally among all its citizens and also show such beautiful acts of internationalism.
Jorge Arturo Reyes, Minister Counsellor of the Permanent Mission of Venezuela to the United Nations, who attended the event, recalled that Cuba supported the Bolivarian Revolution as its best ally when nobody believed in it. He recalled that José Martí's admiration for Simón Bolívar was reflected in the friendship of the great figures from both nations during the 20th and 21st centuries, Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez.
Representatives of Puerto Rican organizations further took the opportunity to publicly thank Cuba for the irrevocable support it has given to the struggle for the independence of Puerto Rico, which has contributed to ensuring that the desire for freedom does not end on the island of Puerto Rico.
The event concluded with shouts of “Cuba Si, Bloqueo No” and “Viva Cuba Socialista” in an evening full of emotions, and with a jazz performance of “Guantanamera”.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.