Prensa Latina reports that Guantánamo, among other major Cuban locales, is celebrating National Rebellion Day [Día de la Rebeldía Nacional], with the participation of thousands of people to honor the participants in the actions that marked the beginning of the Cuban Revolution 59 years ago. Celebrations, led by Raúl Castro and leading council members, began this morning at 7:00am at Plaza Mariana Grajales.
Events included a reading of a letter by Antonio Maceo, hero of the Wars of Independence in Cuba; a dance performance depicting Afro-Cuban traditions; a presentation of the poem “Escribo 26,” by Coss Cause; and performance of “La Canción del Elegido,” by Silvio Rodríguez.
On July 26, 1953, over one hundred young people staged a military action against the dictator Fulgencio Batista (1952-1959), whose government was responsible for the deaths of about 20,000 Cubans. Led by Fidel Castro, the group attacked the Carlos Manuel de Cespedes Barracks (Bayamo) and Moncada (Santiago de Cuba), second in importance at that time, in order to overthrow Batista.
Although the actions 59 years ago represented a military defeat for the assailants, became, according to Fidel Castro and historians, the driving force to achieve the final victory 5 and a half years later. The act on Guantanamo, more than 900 kilometers southeast of Havana, was broadcast live on radio and television from the Revolution Square Mariana Grajales, where the annual gathering was held for the third time in its history.
For original article in English, see http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=529341&Itemid=1
For full article in Spanish, see http://www.juventudrebelde.cu/cuba/2012-07-26/plaza-mariana-grajales-es-escenario-de-celebraciones-por-el-26-de-julio/ and http://www.bohemia.cu/
