This past weekend, Cuba’s National newspaper, Granma, honored the date of birth of Cuban Patriot Antonio Maceo, on June 14^th, 165 years ago, as well as what would have been the 82nd birthday of the late Argentinean hero of the Cuban Revolution, Ernesto Che Guevara. Cuban intellectuals are promoting a campaign to spread the anti-imperialist and independence ideals of Antonio Maceo, one of the most important military and political leaders of Cuba’s independence struggles against Spain in the late 19th century, as well as the humanist solidarity promised to poor people all over the world by Che Guevara. The 82nd birthday of Che Guevara was also celebrated in Venezuela and Bolivia. In Caracas, Cuban and Venezuelan poets and writers hosted a rally at La Candelaria square while a documentary on the life of the Cuban-Argentinean guerrilla leader was screened at Casa de las Américas and at the José Martí National Library.
In Bolivia, Cuban internationalists participated in a tribute in La Higuera village, where the guerrilla commander was killed in 1967. As part of this tribute, Cuban health professionals and education specialists working in Bolivia visited historic sites linked to the life of Che Guevara in the region of Vallegrande, where his remains were found in 1997.