Tens of thousands of Cubans gathered this Wednesday at the Anti-imperialist Tribune, near the US embassy in Havana, to celebrate May Day.
According to the organizers, the Central de Trabajadores de Cuba (CTC) and various mass and political organizations, some 200,000 people gathered.
For the second consecutive year, the celebration was not held at the Plaza de la Revolución and there was no mass mobilization, as was characteristic of the date in the past.
Participants began filling the place and part of Malecón Avenue before 6:00 am.
May 1st, as well as its events throughout the country, is a key date in the revolutionary liturgy and has governmental support.
Among the main authorities present at this event were President Miguel Díaz-Canel and his predecessor, Raúl Castro. Meanwhile, other leaders such as Esteban Lazo, president of the National Assembly of People’s Power, was in Santiago de Cuba.
Many of the attendees waved small Cuban and Palestinian flags and among the most repeated cheers were heard, according to Efe: “¡Viva Fidel!“, “¡Patria o Muerte, Venceremos!” and “¡Viva el Socialismo!“.
The celebration of May Day is taking place in Cuba amid a deep multifactorial crisis, in recent times also determined by the fuel shortage.
In fact, during his speech, Ulises Guilarte De Nacimiento, secretary general of the CTC, described the “current socioeconomic context” as “complex and adverse”.
He also referred to the “intensification of U.S. policy” against the island and pointed out the “internal inadequacies”.
“This has a negative impact on consumption levels, food and medicine shortages, as well as the loss of purchasing power of salaries and pensions”, concluded the union leader.
In addition to those who gathered at the Anti-imperialist Tribune, according to Guilarte, so did “millions of compatriots throughout the length and breadth of the national geography”.
According to the union leader, the event shows “that Cubans remain firm and united around the socialist revolution, defending its ideals of independence, sovereignty and social justice”.
The event began at 7:00 a.m. sharp with the singing of the national hymn and a video of Fidel Castro.
With information from Efe and ACN.
