Tribute to a Cuban Revolutionary Heroine MELBA HERNANDEZ

By Carlos “Carlito” Rovira

Melba Hernandez’s life is filled with many fascinating stories which reflect the courage, strength and resilience of Cuban women who made overthrowing the U.S.-puppet regime of Fulgencio Batista a reality. Melba was a combatant and leader in the Rebel Army of the July 26 Movement. She became an important and symbolic political figure of the 1959 Cuban Revolution.

During the armed struggle Hernandez fought gallantly alongside of Comandante Fidel Castro Ruz. She was a confidant of the revolutionary leader and after the seizure of power this heroine became part of his executive staff. Melba played a pivotal role during the critical period of consolidating the Cuban state apparatus.

Melba was introduced to politics by her parents who partook in Cuba’s War for Independence of 1895, led by the legendary Jose Marti. She was a lawyer who was affected by witnessing first-hand the disturbing social and economic inequality in Cuba. From the time she completed her education the young Melba was empathetic with the plight of poor peasants and exploited workers whom she represented as legal counsel.

*Melba Hernandez (right) and Haydee Santamaria in custody following the*
*attack on Moncada Barracks.*

Melba Hernandez and Haydee Santamaria were the only two women that partook in the July 26, 1953, attack on the Moncada Barracks in Santiago, the event that sparked the Cuban Revolution. Part of Fidel Castro Ruz’s plan was for the revolutionary insurgents to enter the surrounding restricted zone at Moncada dressed in the same uniforms as government soldiers. It was Melba who illegally obtained the uniforms. She convinced a military official who supported the rebel cause to assist with her mission.

The attack on Moncada was bloody and ended in failure. By the time it ended most of the insurrectionists were wounded and killed. Many of these revolutionaries died as by torture at the hands of sadistic henchmen of the Batista regime. Some, like Fidel Castro Ruz managed to escape and hide in the jungle until they negotiated a surrender days later through an intermediary.

Hernandez and Santamaria were arrested, convicted and given shorter prison sentences in comparison to their male counterparts who were released two years later. During their incarceration, Hernandez and Santamaria experienced humiliating abuse by Batista’s prison officials.

My portrait of Melba Hernandez. 20″ X 24″, acrylic paint on canvas.

After these heroines were released, they were determined to carry out the work of building a mass movement and the clandestine network that would eventually topple the Batista government. Melba was instrumental in smuggling out of the prison where Fidel Castro was held a draft of his famous courtroom speech when he was tried “History will Absolve Me”, one of the most important documents of the Cuban Revolution.

After the seizure of power on January 1, 1959, Hernandez was assigned to several important roles in the government. In 1960, she was placed in charge of women’s prisons in Cuba. For Hernandez, a top priority was to spearhead prison reform to align with the humane principles of the revolution.

Melba Hernandez meeting with Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh.

**Melba Hernández and Vilma Espín welcomed Vietnam**‘s **General Nguyễn Thị Định**, during her visit to Cuba

During the late 1960s – 1970s, at the height of the vicious colonial war the U.S. was waging against the Vietnamese people, Hernandez risked danger to herself by traveling frequently to the war-torn country as head of the Cuban Committee in Solidarity with Vietnam. She also served as Secretary General of OSPAAAL, the Organization of Solidarity with the Peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America.

In the 1980s, Hernandez earned Cuba’s Ambassadorship to Vietnam and Cambodia due to her diligent work of solidarity with the Vietnamese Revolution. This heroine also served the Cuban government as a Deputy in the country’s National Assembly of People’s Power.

Melba Hernandez with Comandante Fidel Castro Ruz.

Sadly, on March 9, 2014, Melba died of natural causes. Having lived her life as a diplomat and high-ranking official of a revolutionary government, her legacy shall inspire revolutionaries for generations to come, especially women who will be duty-bound to confront backward traditions that perpetuate women’s oppression.

Hernandez was among other iconic female figures who were decisive in that revolutionary experience, such as Vilma Espin, Celia Sanchez, Aleida March, Haydee Santamaria, and others. Their selflessness and loyalty to the revolution surmounted of of what many would have expected.

Thanks to the Cuban Revolution Melba Hernandez, dared to be amongst those to set standards for challenging the greatest tyrant in human history.

LONG LIVE THE CUBAN REVOLUTION!

Tribute to one of Africa’s greatest revolutionary fighters THOMAS SANKARA

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“Imperialism is a system of exploitation that occurs not only in the brutal form of those who come with guns to conquer territory. Imperialism often occurs in more subtle forms, a loan, food aid, blackmail. We are fighting this system that allows a handful of men on Earth to rule all of humanity.” ― Thomas Sankara

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By Carlos “Carlito” Rovira

Thomas Sankara is one of Africa’s greatest iconic figures who continues to inspire millions throughout the world and is remembered as an example of resistance. This revolutionary lived from December 21, 1949, until his assassination on October 15, 1987. He lived to fight for a free Burkina Faso from the viciousness of colonial rule.

Sankara became President of Burkina Faso on August 4, 1983, at 33 years old, following a popular uprising in the country that overthrew the corrupt and brutal regime of Major Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo, who maintained questionable ties with the former French colonizers of the country.

Thomas Sankara speaking at the United Nations General Assembly on **October 4, 1984**,

At the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, imperialist European powers divided Africa exclusively among themselves without the presence of African people. French colonialism named a region they appropriated the “Upper Volta.” After Sankara led a successful liberation struggle and he became head of state, by decree the country was given the name Burkina Faso.

In the short period of four years of his presidency, Sankara surprised many by transforming the country in a positive direction on a socialist basis. The social, economic and cultural reality of his people were introduced to groundbreaking measures unseen in their history.

For the first time a government existed that prioritized transforming the infrastructure by constructing roads, railways, building waterways, schools, medical clinics, pharmacies, and housing. Sankara also aimed to eradicate illiteracy by launching a campaign throughout Burkina Faso as an essential part of his Socialist economic goals.

Standing on the left side of Thomas Sankara is South Africa’s iconic singer Miriam Makeba, in a photo op with other outspoken African women.

Sankara supported the struggle for women’s equality. Laws were enacted aimed to advance the position of women in the country. The new decrees outlawed young women being forced into pre-arraigned marriages, banning female genital mutilation (FMG) “customs”, polygamy practices, as well as other backward tribal traditions that perpetuate women’s oppression.

Despite the disapproval of those who sought to preserve patriarchal dominance, by government decree it was mandated that every female receive a free education as well as be given the opportunity to prove their ability for appointment to decision-making government posts, even if pregnant. Sankara was the first African leader to appoint women for the highest government cabinet positions and recruit into the ranks of the country’s military.

To the displeasure of imperialist exploiters of Africa, foreign-owned enterprises were nationalized by revolutionary decree. Although private ownership of industries was not fully eliminated Burkina Faso did undergo a complete break with foreign control of its vital natural resources, thus allowing the country the freedom to develop economically.

My portrait of Thomas Sankara. 20″ X 24″, acrylic paint on canvas.

Sankara’s dream was to transform the country by making it self-sufficient. Without hesitation, he adamantly refused loan offers made by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB) knowing the manipulative schemes they use to keep poor countries in debt and subjugated on behalf of leading imperialist powers.

The economic infrastructure of Burkina Faso was deliberately kept backward, and its people remained downtrodden for decades due to France’s extreme colonial plunder of the country since 1896.

Under Sankara’s leadership the government established land reforms that benefited the poorest landless peasants of the country. He collectivized agriculture and industries following the model of the Cuban Revolution. Every effort was made to involve the broadest number of the population in an endeavor aimed to achieve economic self-reliance thus safeguarding the people’s right to self-determination from imperialist predators.

In September 1984, Cuban President Fidel Castro Ruz awarded Thomas Sankara with the Order of Jose Marti for
his role in the liberation struggle of his people and upholding internationalist solidarity.

But as Burkina Faso intensified its nationalization process of land and mineral wealth French and U.S. officials at the highest level began sensing a threat to their strategic interest in the region, especially after Sankara called for a series of social, ecological, and economic reforms of socialist content.

Imperialism’s contempt of Burkina Faso’s revolutionary leadership intensified when Sankara’s relationship with Cuba and the Soviet Union became official, at the height of the “Cold War.” The two socialist states provided Burkina Faso with military advisers and training, weapons, technical and agricultural equipment, medical supplies, education and so on, despite Sankara’s open criticisms of the Soviet occupation in Afghanistan.

Sankara was first introduced to the writings of Karl Marx and Vladamir Lenin in the early 1970s while undergoing officer training in Madagascar. He was able to advance the legitimacy of Marxism-Leninism and Pan-Africanism by combining the principles of the two revolutionary doctrines, which have historically been complimentary. And when the intelligence agencies of imperialism observed with alarm how a Socialist like Sankara sought ways to unite Pan-Africanists on the continent and beyond, they launched an aggressive campaign to undermine and ultimately overthrow his government.

Sadly, in a blatant example of betrayal, on October 15, 1987, Thomas Sankara was assassinated as part of a coup d’état led by Blaise Compaoré, a close ally, friend, and key partner in the 1983 revolution that overthrew Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo. A unit of Compaoré’s rogue forces systematically killed Sankara and 12 members of his cabinet while they were having an official meeting. Compaoré served as Minister of State and Minister of Justice, essentially the second-in-command.

Compaoré was against Sankara’s radical Pan-Africanist and Marxist-Leninist views. He was opposed to the socialist path the country was on and preferred that the government institute pro-Western policies. Compaoré was also hostile to the developing relationship Burkina Faso had with Cuba and the Soviet Union. What at first appeared as mere differences eventually evolved to open antagonism.

As if Compaore’s actions were not sinister enough, he pronounced himself President of the country immediately after Sankara’s assassination. The chronology of events leading up to Sankara’s death indisputably demonstrate that Compaoré was a mole of Burkina Faso’s former colonizers.

Although concrete evidence of U.S. and French involvement in Sankara’s assassination doesn’t exist it would be extremely naive to overlook their history of subversion against governments unfavorable to the strategic interests of imperialist states. The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and France’s Direction générale de la sécurité extérieure (DGSE) were created specifically to carry out the necessary secret work for preserving their respective empires.

Hopefully, the emergence of Captain Ibrahim Toare as President of Burkina Faso today shall serve the ongoing resistance to imperialism of that country and inspire revolution in the entire African continent. Weakening and ultimately removing imperialism’s stranglehold is the only true act that will bring about justice for the assassination of Sankara and other African warriors.

Thomas Sankara shall forever be remembered as a Pan-Africanist because he sincerely loved his people. And he will also be remembered as a Socialist because he wanted what he strongly believed was best for his people. His legacy is part of traditions long established by many seeking ways to free Africa and inspire future generations of revolutionaries to be like Chris Hani, Amilcar Cabral, Patrice Lumumba, Steve Biko, Kwame Nkrumah, Nelson Mandela, and so many others.

Long Live the Revolutionary Legacy of Thomas Sankara!

DON JULIO PINTO GANDIA & the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico

By Carlos “Carlito” Rovira

Julio Pinto Gandia was someone whom I remember during my childhood visiting our family home on the Lower East Side, New York City. I knew him as Don Pinto. My parents and other family members were affiliated with a secret committee of the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico that operated in New York City, of which Don Pinto was leader.

Born in Manati, Puerto Rico on July 9, 1908, Gandia was one of the most outspoken advocates for the independence of Puerto Rico from U.S. colonialism throughout most of his life. He became a close and trusted confidant of the iconic Nationalist leader Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos and became known as his “right-hand man.”

Pedro Albizu Campos, Gilberto Concepción de Gracia and lawyer Julio Pinto Gandía, in the San Juan courthouse, Puerto Rico (1936)

When Campos was incarcerated in the 1930s for seditious conspiracy to overthrow the U.S. government in Puerto Rico, Gandia was asked to fill in as Interim President of the Nationalist Party.

And because Don Pinto Gandia was a legal attorney himself he worked closely with the Socialist Congressman Vito Marcantonio who represented New York’s East Harlem community. They both collaborated for several years to fight for Campos’ release from prison while using his legal case to expose the criminality of U.S. colonialism in Puerto Rico.

My portrait of Don Julio Pinto Gandia. 20″ X 24″, acrylic paint on canvas.

But Gandia was himself under the watchful eye of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), especially during the repressive McCarthy Era (1947-1957) of which in Puerto Rico it was more fascistic. He was constantly arrested by the FBI and other colonial authorities. And to interfere with his livelihood and cause further personal harm, in 1937 Gandia was disbarred from the practice of law in Puerto Rico.

Gandia was also accused of being the “mastermind” of the March 1, 1954, Nationalist armed attack on the U.S. House of Representatives. Lolita Lebron, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Irvin Flores Rodriguez, and Andres Figueroa Cordero staged that daring act to bring attention to the plight of the Puerto Rican people. From that point on Gandia was frequently arrested for questioning.

His refusal to answer questions by FBI and court judges about the attack on the U.S. Congress usually landed Gandia jail time for contempt of court. His stubbornness and complete loyalty to the Puerto Rican cause was recognized by his comrades and enemies of the independence movement alike.

In many of his conversations with Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos, Don Pinto Gandia raised the importance of aggressively bringing the case of Puerto Rico before the United Nations. Pinto Gandia was then assigned the task of meeting with delegates of countries belonging to the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization to discuss Puerto Rico’s status.

Gandia’s skillful diplomatic work paid off when in 1978 the U.N. Special Committee officially declared Puerto Rico an occupied colony, despite infuriating outbursts made by U.S. delegates and the mainstream mass media. Washington officials reacted by launching a campaign that falsely showcased Puerto Rico as a success story of U.S. imperialism in Latin America.

However, two years prior to the political embarrassment the U.S. Government faced at the United Nations, in September 1976, after leaving his apartment in Puerto Rico, Julio Pinto Gandia vanished forever without a trace.

Considering that Operation COINTELPRO was taking place with the Puerto Rican independence movement as one of its main targets, it is believed by many that the U.S. government was directly responsible for Gandia’s disappearance. The work this revolutionary was perceived as a threat to U.S. interest in its highly valued colonial possession.

Although we will never know what tragedy occurred to Julio Pinto Gandia his legacy has secured a special place in the archives of that historic liberation struggle. His resilience, sacrifice, and courageousness, under the most difficult circumstances reflect the moral strengths of the Puerto Rican people.

¡QUE VIVA PUERTO RICO LIBRE!

General Vo Nguyen Giap, and the Vietnamese people’s defeat of U.S. imperialism

General Vo Nguyen Giap, August 25, 1911 – October 4, 2013

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“It wasn’t me, but the Vietnamese people who won the Vietnam war. You call me a legendary general, but I think I’m no different from my soldiers”.

– General Võ Nguyên Giáp

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By Carlos “Carlito” Rovira

Vietnam’s General Võ Nguyên Giáp is one of the most outstanding revolutionary figures in history to provide military leadership in modern times. Thanks to Giáp’s superior strategy, poor village peasants were transformed into a formidable guerilla army called the Viet Minh which became the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN). Against often seemingly insurmountable odds, the PAVN went on to defeat two imperialist powers, France in 1954 and the United States in 1975.

The young Võ Nguyên Giáp and Ho Chi Minh.

General Giáp was a most trusted confidant of the iconic Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh. Giáp was a firm believer that doing the impossible was not impossible, when it came to waging struggle to end tyranny and human suffering.

In May 1941, under the occupation of both French and Japanese imperialism, Giáp became leader of the Viet Minh, the military component of the League for the Independence of Vietnam, organized by Ho Chi Minh. Giáp’s leadership in the tactics of conventional and guerilla warfare was decisive in defeating Japanese, French, and U.S. imperialism.

Personal tragedies resulting from horrors caused by French colonialism profoundly affected Giáp which played a big role in molding his fury, resilience and revolutionary disposition. In 1938, he fled North to China to avoid arrest by pursuing colonial authorities.

My portrait of General Võ Nguyên Giáp. 20″ X 24″, acrylic paint on canvas.

In 1940, his wife Nguyen Thi Quang Thai, also a leader in the Communist Party of Vietnam, was arrested. She experienced extreme torture including being forced to watch the murder of her parents and other family members. Nguyen eventually died while in the Hoa Lo Prison. Her sister also arrested was tortured and guillotined.

General Giáp’s military talents and skill were developed without any formal military schooling or training. He became attracted to military science by studying the history of warfare in different countries, the military writings of China’s Communist leader Mao Zedong and the classic Art of War by Sun Tzu.

In September 1973, Cuba’s President Fidel Castro Ruz made a secret and symbolic trip to Vietnam where he was warmly greeted by General Giap. Fidel Castro was the only head of state to visit Vietnam during the war.

General Giáp’s skillfulness in strategy and tactics proved decisive on March 13, 1954, at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. Vietnamese combatants humiliated and painfully stunned the better trained and equipped French Army by smashing their ability to fight.

Giáp masterfully developed guerilla tactics which he passed on to other leading combatants for applicability like the iconic Nguyễn Thị Định, an exemplary fighter who became the country’s first female ranking military general.

General Giáp was the leading figure of the People’s Army during the war against U.S. imperialism and their South Vietnamese puppets. He was the architect and organizer of the famous Ho Chi Minh Trail which served as a secret supply route for guerilla fighters in the Southern occupied portion of the country.

The Ho Chi Minh Trail went through the jungles and tunnels of neighboring countries Laos and Cambodia. This network was used as a secret thruway to transport weapons and supplies. The engineering of this project was so sophisticated that the U.S. Air Force and Special Forces failed to detect its locations in order to destroy them.

In 1968, General Giáp masterminded the famous Tet Offensive. Under Giap’s command this military offensive achieved the desirable political outcome once it was launched on January 30, 1968. The revolutionary Vietnamese forces created extreme turmoil to counter false claims made by Washington officials that the National Liberation Front of Vietnam (NLF) was losing the war.

However, the opposite proved to be the case when U.S. casualties increased dramatically as a result of the fury the NLF unleashed with immense firepower throughout Vietnam. The growing number of body bags containing remains of American G.I.s could no longer be concealed from the mass media.

And when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. presented his famous speech at Riverside Church in New York City, titled “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence“ it added to a major shift in public opinion. Opposition to the war ignited everywhere in society, especially among the youth who were distressed about being drafted for military service. Once the Tet Offensive began young men of age were increasingly refusing to enlist or evading the draft.

The country was consumed in protests. Many people who never attended a demonstration were now compelled to take a stance against the hypocritical politics of the War in Vietnam, especially in Black and Brown communities who were disproportionally the ones to be killed.

Units of the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN).

The Tet Offensive caused havoc for war planners at the Pentagon, as U.S. military forces became demoralized and resentful to the military brass. Many who were already in uniform serving in Vietnam staged acts of insubordination or rebellion. The Tet Offensive had a psychological affect on combat soldiers there and U.S. military personnel everywhere.

General Giap’s achievements for the liberation of his people are tremendous and continue to inspire millions throughout the world. His wisdom in strategy and tactics also serve as inspiring lessons for other oppressed people. Giap’s leadership in battle against a more powerful foe reaffirmed that colonizers, tyrants and white supremacists are not invincible.

Long live the legacy of General Vo Nguyen Giap and the heroic Vietnamese people!

SHIRLEY A. CHISHOLM – a defiant voice of the Civil Rights movement

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“Health is a human right, not a privilege that you purchase” — Shirly A. Chisholm

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Tribute to Shirley Chisholm, November 30, 1924 – January 1, 2005

By Carlos “Carlito” Rovira

The legendary Shirley Anita Chisholm was a powerful voice of defiance that never ceded her fight for human rights in the United States. As a community activist and member of the U.S. House of Representatives she fought for racial and gender equality, anti-poverty programs, educational reform, and civil rights.

Although Chisholm was never a revolutionary in the traditional sense the Civil Rights movement, she played a significant role in had the potential of evolving in a more radical direction. When making public speeches she agitated like a Black nationalist, a feminist, labor organizer, supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, and used her Spanish language fluency to express support for the Latinx community.

Chisholm was born in Brooklyn, New York to poor immigrant parents from Guyana and Barbados. Being that her family was undergoing financial difficulties, the young Shirley and her sister were sent to live with relatives in Barbados during her childhood.

Although I do not give grandeur to figures in bourgeois politics, Congresswoman Shirley A. Chisholm is a unique case. While Chisholm’s story was not restricted to her achievements in mainstream politics, she represents a particular part in the history of the Civil Rights movement that also fought for social justice.

Chisholm was among progressive politicians that challenged the government by fighting to achieve what oppressed people were demanding. Among these voices in mainstream politics were figures like Vito Marcantonio, Adam Clayton Powell, Charles Diggs, and others.

Chisholm waged a relentless struggle against white supremacist practices in the House of Representatives and other parts of the U.S. Government. Despite the desire of many white racist colleagues not to acknowledge Chisholm’s title, she was nevertheless an elected official who did not hesitated to call out anti-Black legislative proposals motivated to resist the Civil Rights momentum.

Like many progressive Black figures and openly anti-capitalist political organizations of that period, Chisholm was implicitly and explicitly accused of having “communist ties.” She adamantly condemned McCarthy Era legislation maintained for repressing the Communist Party USA and anyone that promoted the ideals of socialism.

My portrait of Shirley A. Chisholm. 20″ X 24″, acrylic paint on canvas.

Chisholm was the first Black woman from New York to win a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. She was an outspoken member of Congress who was vehemently opposed to the criminal U.S. war in Vietnam which she linked to the social and economic disparity in the United States.

The Congresswoman participated in many anti-war demonstrations and rallies throughout the country where she added her voice to the massive public outcry against the war. Her denunciations of Washington officials were fearlessly made to expose their criminal warmongering policies.

Chisholm unapologetically supported the Black Panther Party (BPP). She admired their courageous militant spirit. In April 1972, Chisholm met with BPP leader Huey P. Newton. The BPP recognized Chisholm’s courageousness and empathy for the suffering of the Black masses. The Panthers openly endorsed her campaign to get elected to Congress and set their organizational infrastructure for a voter registration drive to have her elected.

Black Panther Party Minister of Defense Huey P. Newton.

Although Chisholm possessed a fiery spirit that added to the strength of the Civil Rights movement, she came under heavy criticism and condemnation from many circles including within the Black community. On June 8, 1972, Chisholm unexpectedly visited the racist Alabama Governor George Wallace at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland where he was recovering from gunshot wounds in an assassination attempt. In that same year Wallace and Chisholm were competing candidates for the Democratic Party presidential nomination.

Chisholm’s response to her many critics, who viewed the visit to an outspoken white supremacist as absurd, was that she acted with empathy consistent with her religious faith. Like all mainstream political figures Chisholm also had her own significant contradictions.

Despite Chisholm’s political complexities, how she viewed her involvement in bourgeois politics on behalf of oppressed people merits appreciation and applause. Washington officials were irked by an outspoken Black woman intruding in their world of white privilege and entitlement. Nothing could have been more uncomfortable than a strong and dignified woman of color with character always ready to call them out

The humiliation she experienced from the disrespectful behavior of racist colleagues did not deter her. Chisholm’s life journey which at times included unpleasant moments taught her to be resilient. Nothing stopped her from moving forward to carry out legislative work. Her famous motto was: “If they deny you a seat at the table bring your own folding chair.” She had a way of frustrating the most condescending and arrogant elements in the U.S. Congress.

Tribute to Blanca Canales, heroine of the Jayuya Uprising

By Carlos “Carlito” Rovira

Below is a 20” X 24”, acrylic paint portrait of the legendary Puerto Rican Nationalist, Blanca Canales, one of my favorite super-sheroes. Her story always fascinated me whenever my parents spoke of her with admiration during my childhood.

Blanca Canales lived from February 17, 1906, to July 25, 1996. She was an educator and staunch leader of the Nationalist Party in Jayuya, Puerto Rico. As a child she was reared by parents who advocated independence for the homeland from U.S. domination. By the time Blanca reached adulthood she became well versed in the anti-colonial cause.

The young Blanca Canales and Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos.

Canales was motivated to join the Nationalist Party due to her disdain for the repressive U.S. colonial presence in Puerto Rico, especially during the 1948 Law 53, also known as the Gag Law. This decree made it illegal to mention independence in literature, recorded music or public speeches. In addition, waving or possessing a Puerto Rican flag was a criminal offense punishable by 10 years in prison.

When Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos rose to the presidency of the Nationalist Party Blanca participated in organizing the women’s section of that entity, known as Daughters of Freedom. Her charisma and convictions inspired many women to join the ranks of the Nationalist Party.

My portrait of Blanca Canales. 20″ X 24″, acrylic paint on canvas.

But Blanca Canales is best known for leading the famous October 30, 1950, Jayuya Uprising, part of the general Nationalist revolt in Puerto Rico. The Nationalist Party leadership chose to strike with armed force once their intelligence operatives discovered a secret plan the U.S. colonizers preparing to destroy the independence movement with violence.

On that morning, Canales led a contingency of insurrectionists in an armed attack on the police headquarters of Jayuya, where a fierce gun battle ensued for several hours. Police officials were shocked by the unexpected tenacity of the Nationalists. Overwhelmed and outnumbered, colonial officials and police were compelled to surrender and exit the building with their hands raised in the air.

Blanca Canales in custody by colonial police after the Jayuya Uprising.

Nationalist Party women faced the same repressive consequences as their male comrades. In this photo they are being processed after arrest by colonial police.

Puerto Rican Nationalists also launched armed attacks on police and government facilities in other cities, Utuado, Arecibo, Mayaguez, Naranjito, Peñuelas, and Ponce. In San Juan, Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos and other patriots defended the Nationalist Party headquarters in a shootout with colonial police. Blanca Canales was one of many women who took part in this significant chapter in Puerto Rican history.

Immediately after the Nationalists gained control of Jayuya, Blanca proceeded to give the command to burn down the despised police facility. Surrounded by crowds of residents, the brave patriots defiantly raised the outlawed Puerto Rican flag. With her weapon raised in the air, Canales shouted the solemn historic words of the struggle — “QUE VIVA PUERTO RICO LIBRE!” She boldly declared the independence of Puerto Rico!

Blanca Canales flanked by two other Nationalist heroines, Lolita Lebron (left) and Isabel Rosado (right).

The response of U.S. colonialism to the insurrectionists was swift and brutal. The National Guard was utilized to repress the revolt including bombing Jayuya and Utuado from warplanes in a desperate rush to subdue the Nationalists.

The Jayuya Uprising is an episode in Puerto Rican history that remains virtually hidden from mainstream education. Puerto Rico’s colonial status points to the plunderous intentions of the U.S. in Latin America and Caribbean. What the Jayuya Uprising did was to cause political embarrassment for U.S. rulers, who were quick to depict the situation as a conflict among Puerto Ricans.

Blanca’s love for the homeland was uncompromising. Despite the revolt being suppressed and having sacrificed so much by spending years in prison, her courageous role in the liberation struggle is unforgettable. Her legacy will surely give rise to future revolutionaries that will fight for a free Puerto Rico.

QUE VIVA PUERTO RICO LIBRE!

Long live the fighting spirit of the Aug 21,1831, Nat Turner Rebellion

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“I had a vision – and I saw white spirits and black spirits engaged in battle, and the sun was darkened – the thunder rolled in the Heavens, and blood flowed in streams – and I heard a voice saying, ‘Such is your luck, such are you called to see, and let it come rough or smooth, you must surely bear it.” – Nat Turner

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By Carlos “Carlito” Rovira

Of the events in African American history that bourgeois historians and apologists of slavery tend to dread the most is the Nat Turner Rebellion. This monumental chapter in Black history occurred on August 21, 1831, at the Belmont Plantation in Southampton County, Virginia. Since then, Nat Turner’s name symbolizes defiance for Black people but for white privilege it continues to be a moment in history that torments the imagination.

White supremacy’s preferred narrative of that rebellion is to overemphasize the violence inflicted on the slave owning families. False interpretations of history aimed to project slavers as victims and insidiously criminalize the justified rage of Black people, both in the past and present.

The horrific acts of violence inflicted on white slave owning families by the rebellious enslaved people can best be characterized as the “chickens coming home to roost”. To understand why this slave revolt was one of the bloodiest in U.S. history it requires critical thinking to grasp the experiences African Americans endured under that system.

Great Britain perceived the Thirteen Colonies as their goose that laid golden eggs and valued them more than all its conquered territories throughout the globe. it was in the United States where the system of chattel slavery became most lucrative and why it was extremely brutal.

The rapid economic accumulation of wealth created from enslaved labor allowed the United States to develop into the giant capitalist bastion it is today. The enormous financial power that derived from the harshest circumstances of human suffering compelled the rulers to develop a set of ideas that served as their ideological justification for Black oppression — White supremacy.

African chattel slavery was most lucrative and brutal in the United States.

Despite the glorification of the “old South” by the mainstream Black people were subjected to extreme forms of degradation, beatings, castration, torture, murder, and the rape of women, men and children alike. Black families lived under constant fear of being separated. Without warning children, mothers and fathers were sold to other slave plantations. In addition, among the most shocking and heinous acts committed by slave owners as a sport and for punishing insubordinate slaves was having their children tossed into rivers to be killed by crocodiles.

The gall of bourgeois historians who dare to make false judgement while minimizing the crimes inflicted on Black people. The blame for the not-so-pleasant details of slave uprisings falls strictly on those who firmly preserved the cruelty that came with this system. Black people have historically been driven to use force as a means to end their suffering.

No uprising in history has ever been pretty. When a subjugated people realizes that struggle is the only path to freedom there are no guarantees that bloodshed will be absent from the equation. In addition, tyrants have always reserved the right to use violence, as a way to preserve their power. For oppressed people breaking away from the yoke of their plight has always been achieved by whatever means necessary.

Although Nat Turner was traumatized from abuses since childhood, he managed to develop strong leadership qualities which allowed him to serve as preacher among the enslaved. According to the supposed “confession” made after his capture, to a Southampton attorney Thomas Ruffin Gray, Turner stated that he had received a message from “God” commanding him to lead the slaves in an uprising.

Nat Turner and fellow enslaved prepare for rebellion.

On the evening of August 21, 1831, Turner led numerous slaves in an action which abruptly began the rebellion. They ran to the supply sheds to arm themselves with tools used for toiling the land. With weapons in hand the enslaved laborers proceeded throughout the plantation to bludgeon and stab to death the well-armed overseers.

The intensity of the revolt continued with Turner and his followers entering the hated resident mansion which symbolized the depth of their oppression. It was there where all members of the privileged White slave owning family were killed.

An artist’s depiction of Nat Turner’s Rebellion.

Days later, a state of panic widely consumed the White populace of Virginia and neighboring states, as the Black insurgents were hunted down like animals by bands of racist vigilantes. Unfortunately, by October 30th all the insurrectionists were captured and put on a showcase trial.

On November 11, 1831 Nat Turner and 56 of his followers were executed and about 200 non-participants of the revolt from neighboring plantations were beaten and tortured. The repressive decrees implemented throughout the South were intense and lasted until the end of the Civil War.

As if killing Nat Turner and his followers were not enough to satisfy the frenzied vindictiveness of slavers, the bodies of the martyrs were gruesomely chopped to pieces, burned and used to make oil and glue.

In the aftermath the white populace proved to be psychologically impacted. They became increasingly fearful of Black people. New repressive measures were instituted throughout the South with harsher laws that restricted the movement of the enslaved and free Blacks alike.

Artist depiction of Nat Turner being led to his execution.

Nat Turner contributed to the rising momentum of that period which popularized the use of armed force against the vile institution of slavery. By all accounts this rebellion inspired John Brown‘s attack on Harper’s Ferry in 1859, which triggered the momentous political storm that resulted in the Civil War of 1861-1865 and the overthrow of the slave-owning system.

The Attempt to destroy slavery by the slaves themselves is of the utmost significance. This event will continue to inspire today’s anti-racist struggles as we continue to grapple with the historical consequences of African chattel slavery in the modern era.

A plaque stands on the site of the rebellion in Belmont Plantation, Southhampton, Virginia.

Although the rebellion was suppressed, with the martyrs tortured and executed, this history continues to inspire struggle in the present period. The legacy of this slave revolt added to Black traditions that gave us Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglas, Ida B. Wells, Marcus Garvey, the African Blood Brotherhood, Malcolm X, the Black Panther Party, and more recently, what transpired with the Black Lives Matter demonstrations.

History has given Nat Turner the noble title of revolutionary. A future revolutionary struggle in the United States will surely bring about a broad desire for erecting statues and monuments dedicated to the memory of Black freedom fighters like Nat Turner. Giving the highest tribute to men and women who fought for Black liberation will be part and parcel of realizing the demand for Reparations.

LONG LIVE THE MEMORY OF NAT TURNER, OCTOBER 2, 1800 – NOVEMBER 11, 1831

Salute to Vietnam’s Major General Nguyen Thi Dinh

Salute to Vietnam’s Major General Nguyen Thi Dinh

March 15, 1920 – August 26, 1992

By Carlos “Carlito” Rovira

As a salute to the 50th anniversary of Vietnam’s triumph over U.S. imperialism, I was inspired to paint a 20” X 24”, acrylic paint canvas portrait of Major General Nguyễn Thị Định. Her legacy symbolizes the resilience of the heroic Vietnamese people, first against the French and then the United States.

Nguyễn Thị Định joined Vietnam’s liberation struggle by coming into the ranks of the Viet Minh at just 16 years of age. In 1938 she joined the Indochinese Communist Party which eventually became the Communist Party of Vietnam.

A piece I made to honor General Nguyễn Thị Định. 20″ X 24″, acrylic paint on canvas.

She was arrested by the French colonizers and imprisoned between 1940-1943. Dinh’s husband was also captured by French authorities and sent to a torturous facility in Con Dao Island. It was there where he was killed. Dinh always promised to avenge his death.

During the Vietnam War Định commanded the all-women guerilla force which became known as the “Long-Haired Army”. She is remembered for her brilliant leadership in the 1960 Dong Khoi uprising in the Ben Tre Province, the turning point in the Vietnam War.

General Nguyễn Thị Định and Comandante Fidel Castro Ruz in a visit to Cuba.

As the conflict intensified Dinh developed necessary strategies and tactics in guerilla warfare that resulted in inflicting many casualties on U.S. military personnel and their puppet soldiers in the South Vietnamese Army.

Nguyễn Thị Định was a co-founder of the National Front for the Liberation of Vietnam (also known as the Viet Cong). She became a prominent political figure in the People’s Liberation Armed Forces of South Vietnam.

General Nguyễn Thị Định cherishing a moment with her comrades at a guerilla base.

In April 1974, due to her unique leadership capabilities, Dinh was promoted to become Vietnam’s first female military general, earning her the rank of Major General.

This significant development in Vietnamese history reflects the pivotal role women played during that country’s liberation struggle. Most combatants of the NLF were women.

Vietnamese women played a significant role as combatants during the military struggle.

Men and women comprised the guerilla fighters of the National Liberation Front.

The gender of these fully capable women combatants became psychologically disturbing for imperialist troops trained to further adopt the views of male dominance. Many of these U.S. troops were guilty of terrorizing the Vietnamese civilian population.

A U.S. combat pilot shot down and taken as prisoner of war.

The lessons the Vietnamese struggle provided the world are numerous. The steadfast and courage of the Vietnamese people impacted the intensity of the 1960s-70s mass upsurge in this country. Thanks to the Vietnam’s war for liberation Black and Brown people in the U.S. were given another point of reference for their own struggles.

And when a mighty anti-war movement rose up in this country it became decisive with its opposition to stop the colonial war the U.S. was waging in Vietnam.

Today, Nguyễn Thị Định is remembered for inspiring the Vietnamese people to do the impossible, defeating in battle the greatest tyrant ever known in human history. What this heroine proved is that oppressors are never invincible.

LONG LIVE THE HEROIC EXAMPLE OF THE VIETNAMESE PEOPLE!

LONG LIVE THE LEGACY OF MAJOR GENERAL NGUYEN THI DINH!

¡Que viva el heroico ataque al cuartel Moncada en el 26 de julio de 1953!

For English version: https://carlitoboricua.blog/2025/07/21/long-live-the-heroic-july-26-1953-attack-on-the-moncada-barracks/

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“Los demagogos y los políticos profesionales quieren hacer el milagro de ser buenos en todo y con todos, engañando necesariamente a todos en todo. Los revolucionarios proclamarán sus ideas con valentía, definirán sus propios principios y expresarán su intención de no engañar a nadie, ni a amigos ni a enemigos.” – Fidel Castro Ruz, de La historia me absolverá.

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Por Carlos “Carlito” Rovira

En la madrugada del 26 de julio de 1953, aproximadamente 160 rebeldes, liderados por Fidel Castro Ruz, atacaron simultáneamente dos puestos militares del régimen títere estadounidense de Fulgencio Batista. El Cuartel Moncada, en Santiago de Cuba, y el Cuartel Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, en Bayamo, Cuba, fueron los objetivos. El Cuartel Moncada era la segunda guarnición más grande del país.

Entre los notables luchadores por la libertad que participaron en los ataques se encontraban el hermano de Fidel Castro, Raúl Castro, junto con Haydée Santamaría y Melba Hernández, las únicas mujeres del grupo.

Melba Hernández (izquierda) y Haydee Santamaría después de su captura.

Fidel Castro se vio motivado a organizar estas audaces acciones en respuesta al descontento en Cuba por la destitución ilegal del presidente saliente Carlos Prío Socarrás. Fue depuesto por Fulgencio Batista, quien dio un golpe militar el 10 de marzo de 1952.

Aunque Batista era candidato a la presidencia según las encuestas no parecía que ganaría las elecciones debido a su impopularidad desde un período anterior cuando se desempeñó como Presidente de Cuba del 10 de octubre de 1940 al 10 de octubre de 1944.

Durante este periodo, las elecciones presidenciales y parlamentarias programadas se cancelaron abruptamente. Castro estaba entre los candidatos que se postulaban para un escaño en el parlamento.

Como resultado de la Guerra Fría, una parte esencial de la estrategia global de Estados Unidos fue la organización encubierta de golpes militares por parte de la Agencia Central de Inteligencia (CIA), como los de Cuba en 1952, Paraguay en 1954, Guatemala en 1954, Argentina en 1955, Honduras en 1956, Colombia en 1957, Venezuela en 1958, El Salvador en 1960, Perú en 1962, Ecuador en 1963, Honduras en 1963, Brasil en 1964, Argentina en 1966, Perú en 1968 y Panamá en 1968.

*Haydee Santamaria, Celia Sanchez among other members of the Rebel Army in the Sierra Maestra.*

Aunque los rebeldes estaban deseosos de luchar por sus convicciones a pesar del peligro que implicaba, su determinación definió el valor y el sacrificio. En medio de disparos y un intenso caos, la Revolución Cubana comenzó en el Cuartel Moncada en ese día inolvidable.

Los combatientes inexpertos sufrieron la falta de preparación para enfrentarse a tropas gubernamentales mejor entrenadas y equipadas. Como resultado de errores tácticos, muchos fueron capturados, torturados y asesinados.

Fidel Castro logró escapar y esconderse en el bosque durante varios días hasta que pudo negociar su rendición a través de un intermediario en los alrededores.

Sin embargo, lo que inicialmente pareció una derrota devastadora para los rebeldes resultó ser todo lo contrario. Fidel Castro acertó al predecir que los ataques desencadenarían una tormenta revolucionaria irreversible que consumiría a todos los sectores de la población.

Una auténtica revolución, independientemente de su origen, tendrá ciertos patrones comunes. La valiente acción de Castro y su equipo recordó el ataque de 1859 que fue lanzado en Estados Unidos a Harpers Ferry, Virginia Occidental, liderado por el legendario abolicionista antiesclavista John Brown. Aunque ambas batallas fracasaron con la pérdida de muchos valientes combatientes, cada uno de estos eventos encendió las llamas de una revolución.

Fidel Castro Ruz siendo interrogado por oficiales militares de Batista.

La policía y el ejército de Batista cometieron numerosos abusos contra los derechos humanos, lo que provocó que muchos cubanos aplaudieran favorablemente el audaz ataque al Moncada. Los ciudadanos vivían bajo la constante amenaza de encarcelamiento, palizas y muerte por el simple hecho de expresar su desaprobación hacia Batista, especialmente la población afrocubana más oprimida.

Esta situación fue debilitándose poco a poco al régimen, sobre todo después de que Fidel, abogado de formación, presentara como testimonio uno de los discursos más famosos del siglo XX, como parte de su propia defensa titulado “La historia me absolverá“.

Las palabras de Castro perjudicaron a Batista. A pesar de la censura gubernamental, los medios de comunicación no pudieron ocultar su espíritu militante y desafiante. Utilizó el escenario de un tribunal para desacreditar detalladamente las prácticas corruptas y fascistas del régimen contra el pueblo.

Tras la condena de Castro a quince años de prisión por parte del tribunal, su discurso fue filtrado página por página para su publicación y amplia circulación en forma de panfleto. Como resultado, surgió un amplio movimiento de masas que exigía la liberación de los presos políticos y el derrocamiento del régimen de Batista.

Fue Fidel Castro quien acuñó el nombre “Movimiento 26 de Julio” para conmemorar a los mártires que sacrificaron sus vidas durante el fallido intento de tomar el Moncada.

La agitación y la intranquilidad son la mejor descripción de la situación en Cuba durante este período histórico. A medida que la frustración y la desesperación del pueblo aumentaban, las manifestaciones espontáneas, que solían desembocar en enfrentamientos violentos con las tropas gubernamentales, también afectaron al pueblo.

Aunque obligados a hacer una concesión táctica a los luchadores por la libertad ante la opinión pública, Batista y sus compinches no se percataron de que las semillas de la revolución ya estaban sembradas.

Fidel Castro y sus compañeros fueron liberados de prisión después de recibir una amnistía general.

Además, Castro y la mayoría de los presos políticos recién liberados fueron a México para planificar la siguiente fase de la lucha. En México, Fidel Castro conoció por primera vez a Ernesto Che Guevara y Camilo Cienfuegos, dos figuras que se convirtieron en líderes del Ejército Rebelde.

Durante su estancia en México, las tareas del movimiento fueron llevadas a cabo por Celia Sánchez, Vilma Espín, Haydée Santamaría, Melba Hernández, Frank País, Raúl Castro y Juan Almeida Bosque.

Establecieron comités de propaganda en toda Cuba; una red de inteligencia; contrabandearon armas al Ejército Rebelde en la Sierra Maestra; desarrollaron las comunicaciones entre los luchadores por la libertad en México y Cuba, etc.

En mayo de 1955, dos años después del asalto al Moncada, Batista fue presionado para conceder una amnistía general a Fidel Castro y sus camaradas. Un poderoso movimiento de masas se estaba volviendo cada vez más abrumador para la clase dominante cubana.

La sofisticación organizativa de estos revolucionarios ha permitido que la Revolución Cubana sobreviva hasta nuestros días en circunstancias opresivas causadas por el imperialismo estadounidense. Sin embargo, la Revolución Cubana ha demostrado más allá de toda duda que la tiranía imperialista no es invencible.

Lo que comenzó con el ataque al Cuartel Moncada, la toma del poder el 1 de enero de 1959 y más allá, seguirá inspirando futuras luchas revolucionarias por la emancipación completa de la humanidad.

¡VIVA LA REVOLUCIÓN CUBANA!

Long Live the Heroic July 26, 1953, Attack on the Moncada Barracks!

Para la versión en español: https://carlitoboricua.blog/?p=14812&preview=true&_thumbnail_id=14826

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“Demagogues and professional politicians want to make the miracle of being good in everything and with everybody, necessarily fooling everyone in everything. Revolutionaries will proclaim their ideas bravely, define their own principles, and express their intentions to deceive no one, neither friends nor foes.” – Fidel Castro Ruz, from History will absolve me.

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By Carlos “Carlito” Rovira

In the early morning hours of July 26, 1953, approximately 160 rebels led by the 27 years old Fidel Castro Ruz, simultaneously attacked two military outposts of the U.S.-puppet regime of Fulgencio Batista. The Moncada Barracks in Santiago, Cuba and the Carlos Manuel de Cespedes Barracks in Bayamo, Cuba were targeted. The Moncada Barracks was the second largest garrison in the country.

Among the notable freedom fighters who partook in the attacks were Fidel Castro’s brother, Raul Castro, along with Haydee Santamaria and Melba Hernandez – the only women of the group.

Melba Hernandez (left) and Haydee Santamaria after their capture.

Fidel Castro was motivated to organize these bold actions in response to the discontent felt throughout Cuba for the illegal ouster of outgoing President Carlos Prio Socarras. He was deposed by Fulgencio Batista, who staged a military coup on March 10, 1952.

Although Batista was a candidate for the presidency, according to polls it did not appear as if he would win the election due to his unpopularity from a previous term he served as President of Cuba from October 10, 1940 to October 10, 1944.

Due to the military coup, scheduled elections for the presidency and Parliament were abruptly cancelled. Castro was among the candidates running for a seat in parliament.

As a result of the Cold War, an essential part of the U.S. global strategy was the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) covertly organizing military coups, such as Cuba in 1952, Paraguay 1954, Guatemala 1954, Argentina 1955, Honduras 1956, Colombia 1957 Venezuela 1958, El Salvador 1960, Peru 1962, Ecuador 1963, Honduras 1963, Brazil 1964, Argentina 1966, Peru 1968, and Panama 1968.

Although the rebels were eager to fight for their beliefs despite the danger involved, their determination defined courage and sacrifice. In the midst of gunfire and intense chaos of battle at the Moncada Barracks is where the glorious Cuban Revolution was born.

The inexperienced combatants suffered from being ill-prepared to challenge better trained and equipped government troops. As a result of tactical mistakes, many were tortured and killed after their capture. Amongst the martyrs were Haydee Santamaria’s brother, Abel Santamaria who had his eyes gouged out, and her fiancé, Boris Luis Santa Coloma who had his genitalia dismembered. The two revolutionaries were heinously tortured to death by Batista’s henchmen.

Moncada Barracks in the aftermath of the battle.

Fidel Castro managed to escape and hide in the forest for several days until he was able to negotiate his surrender through an intermediary in the vicinity.

However, what initially appeared to be a devastating defeat for the rebels eventually proved to be the opposite. Fidel Castro was correct by predicting the attacks would trigger an irreversible revolutionary storm consuming all sectors of the population.

Authentic revolution, regardless of its origin, will have certain shared patterns. The courageous action taken by Castro and his team was reminiscent of the 1859 attack on Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, led by the legendary anti-slavery abolitionist John Brown. Although both battles ended in failure with the loss of many courageous lives, each of these events ignited the flames of a revolution in the respective countries.

Fidel Castro Ruz being interrogated by Batista’s military officials.

Batista’s police and military committed many human rights abuses causing many Cubans to favorably cheer the daring Moncada attack. Citizens lived under the constant threat of incarceration, beatings, and death for merely voicing disapproval for Batista, especially the most oppressed Afro-Cuban population.

This situation gradually weakened the regime, especially after Fidel Castro, a trained lawyer, presented as testimony one of the most famous speeches made in the 20th Century as part of his own defense entitled “History will absolve me.”

Castro’s words were very damaging to Batista. Despite government censorship, the news media was unable to hide Castro’s defiant militant spirit. He used the setting of a courtroom to discredit in detail the regime’s corrupt and fascistic practices on the people.

After the court sentenced Castro to fifteen years imprisonment, his speech was smuggled out page by page to be published and widely circulated in pamphlet form. Consequently, a broad mass movement emerged demanding the release of the political prisoners and removal of the Batista regime.

Fidel Castro in the Sierra Maestra Mountains.

It was Fidel Castro who originated the name “July 26 Movement” to commemorate the martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the failed attempt to seize control of the Moncada compound.

Turmoil and unrest can best describe the situation in Cuba during this historic time. As the frustration and desperation of the people rose, spontaneous demonstrations that usually resulted in violent clashes with government troops took its toll on the people as well.

In May 1955, two years after the Moncada attack, Batista was pressured to grant Fidel Castro and his comrades a general amnesty. A powerful mass movement was becoming increasingly overwhelming for Cuba’s ruling class.

Fidel Castro and his comrades were released from prison after receiving a general amnesty.

While compelled to make a tactical concession to the freedom fighters in the face of public opinion, Batista and his cronies that included the Mafia, did not realize that the seeds of revolution had already been planted and were now taking root among the Cuban people.

Moreover, Castro and most of the newly released political prisoners went to Mexico to plan the next phase of the struggle. In Mexico, Fidel Castro met for the first time Ernesto Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos-two figures that became leaders of the Rebel Army.

While Fidel Castro was in Mexico, the tasks of the movement were carried out by Celia Sanchez, Vilma Espin, Haydee Santamaria, Melba Hernandez, Frank Pais, Raul Castro, and Juan Almeida Bosque.

They established propaganda committees throughout Cuba; an intelligence network; smuggled weapons to the Rebel Army in the Sierra Maestra Mountains; developed communications between the freedom fighters in Mexico and Cuba, and so on.

The organizational sophistication of these revolutionaries has made it possible for the Cuban Revolution to survive to this day under the most oppressive circumstances caused by U.S. imperialism. However, the Cuban Revolution has proven beyond any doubt that imperialist tyranny is not invincible.

What began with the attack on the Moncada Barracks, the seizure of power on January 1, 1959, and beyond, will continue to inspire future revolutionary struggles for the complete emancipation of humanity.

LONG LIVE THE CUBAN REVOLUTION!

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