More than 5.3 million Cubans — including 600,000 in Havana — marched on May 1 for International Workers’ Day in the largest concentration of May Day activities in the world, and Cuba’s biggest workers’ celebration in six years.
The turnout was especially significant this year as it was Cuba’s first massive gathering since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. For the first two years, May Day was held at home, in keeping with social isolation. Then deepening economic difficulties brought on by the U.S. blockade, meant that the workers’ holiday would be held closer to neighborhood communities to save on fuel.
Almost everywhere, May Day rallies are protests against the prevailing order — workers on strike or anti-government demonstrations — that are often met with police repression. In Cuba, the rallies are a celebration of socialism and workers’ power.
By 3 a.m., Cuba’s masses had already filled the long boulevard at Revolution Square by the José Martí monument for a rally starting time at 7 a.m. Some 1,000 international guests came from over 39 countries to show their solidarity with the Cuban people and the revolution, from Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. President Miguel Díaz-Canel and historic leader of the revolution Raúl Castro were welcomed with cheers as they appeared at the viewing stand.
The theme, “Por Cuba, Juntos Creamos” (“For Cuba, Together We Create”), accompanied the overriding message that Cuba will rely on its own efforts to overcome the negative effects of the U.S. blockade. In these first 100 days of the Trump administration has already tightened the screws and more attacks are expected soon.
Remittances — a lifeline for many Cubans who receive assistance from their relatives abroad — have been blocked anew, and a concerted effort is underway by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to sanction countries that accept the legions of Cuban doctors who provide free health care to their people. These doctors’ professional services are paid in hard currency by those governments. A percentage of that money goes to provide medicines and supplies for Cuban citizens, a portion goes to the Cuban doctors.
More than 40,000 doctors and nurses led the grand march with cheers from the crowds in their favor, representing the city’s hospitals and scientific institutions. Dressed in their white coats, they made it clear that Washington’s threats will not deter their lifesaving mission at home and abroad.
A sea of union and institutional banners and signs filled the concentration.
Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento, the General Secretary of the CTC, the Cuban Workers Confederation, gave the traditional May Day speech before the march. With a spirited talk that raised high the contributions of Cuba’s workers and echoing the internationalist character of International Workers Day, Guilarte also acknowledged the economic difficulties that every Cuban is facing. But the message was far from despair or surrender.
Guilarte said in part, “We are celebrating the fiesta of the world proletariat in the midst of a complicated international scenario. The world is suffering a renewed and dangerous imperialist offensive, with neofascist expressions that aims to redesign the international system.
“…We will continue without hesitation the battle we are waging to consolidate our freedom, independence, and social justice. This is resoundingly confirmed by the sea of people flooding the plazas across the country today, under the slogan, “For Cuba, Together We Create,” whose content reaffirms the conviction that the main and decisive guarantees of victory is unity and the ability to work, innovate, and do things differently.
…” No matter how hard the enemy tries, they will not be able to hide the fact that this celebration of international Workers’ Day is a new and unequivocal demonstration of the overwhelming support of the heroic Cuban people for their Revolution,”
Guilarte condemned Israel’s genocide in Gaza, and expressed solidarity with workers around the world who are struggling against capitalist exploitation and neoliberal policies.
Twenty-five years ago to the day, historic leader Fidel Castro spoke to one million Cubans gathered for May Day, in which he declared a revolutionary guide of conduct known as “The Concept of Revolution.” Those 140 words declared the principles for the Cuban people, and really, every person who seeks to free the world from exploitation and the misery that capitalism has created.
Against the backdrop of the Cuban leadership’s call for a massive turnout for May Day, the last week has witnessed other remarkable events in Havana, building on Cuba’s strengths in medicine, science, and rebuilding tourism, the 3,000-person strong, 5th Congress of Cuba Salud, the International Tourism Fair were held. China, Mexico, Honduras and Brazil sent the largest delegations to witness the latest achievements of Cuba’s scientific and medical workers.
Feature image: Cubans in Havana march for May Day. Credit: X/DiazCanelB
