Centennial of the first Communist Party of Cuba celebrated in Havana

Images via Revolution Studios

By René Tamayo León, translated from the Spanish

Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, presided over the celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the First Communist Party of Cuba, led by Carlos Baliño and Julio Antonio Mella, which was born from the workers' movements and anti-colonial and anti-imperialist struggles of the 1920s.

Considered a landmark of profound historical, political, and revolutionary importance for the Cuban people, the celebrations marking the founding of the organization on August 16, 1925, took place at the José Martí Memorial in the Plaza of the Revolution.

Rigoberto Santiesteban Reina, the director of the Institute of History of Cuba, noted that the founding of the party was inspired by Martí's ideology and signified the start of a journey of resistance and social transformation, which would eventually be solidified with the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959.

"One hundred years after its foundation," the historian said, "the First Communist Party of Cuba continues to symbolize the audacity of those who believed in the possibility of an liberated future, inspiring the new generations to defend the conquests of the Revolution and to continue building a more just and equitable society.

"This date," he added, "also serves as a call to action for the new generations of Cubans, and represents a bridge between the legacy of struggle of their predecessors and the challenges of today."

The commemoration featured a master class led by Doctor of Sciences Elvis Raúl Rodríguez Rodríguez, vice president of the Institute of History of Cuba. During this session, he explored the events, background, and significance of the First Communist Party of Cuba in relation to the patriotic struggles.

Among those participating in the celebration were José Armando Ricardo Guerra, a member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of the Council of Ministers; Central Committee members Humberto Camilo Hernández Suárez, head of the Department of Cadre Policy, and Emilio Lozada García, head of the Department of International Relations; along with other leaders from the Party, the UJC, and members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior.

The Cuban President also opened a photo and poster exhibition commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first Marxist-Leninist organization on the island. Before this, he visited the exhibition "All the Glory of the World," a photography display by Alex Castro, which was inaugurated on August 13 at the José Martí Memorial to celebrate the 99th birthday of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz.

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