Raúl Castro and Díaz-Canel Lead May 1st Parade in Cuba

The leader of the Cuban Revolution, Army General Raúl Castro, and the President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, are presiding today over the popular parade at Havana’s Plaza de la Revolución in celebration of International Workers’ Day.

Thousands of people, carrying flags, banners, and signs related to the occasion and in support of the Cuban revolutionary process, are responding to the call of the Cuban Workers’ Central (CTC) to take part in this year’s May 1st march.

The return to the traditional parade at José Martí Plaza de la Revolución, which had been suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic, enhances the Cuban celebration because of the symbolic significance of this location. It was here, exactly 25 years ago in 2000, that the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, articulated the concept of Revolution.

Before the country’s top leaders, tens of thousands of Havana residents and over a thousand international guests will express their rejection of the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States for over six decades. This policy hinders the nation’s development and affects the lives of millions of Cubans.

Under the communications campaign “Por Cuba Juntos Creamos” (Together for Cuba We Create), the CTC promoted mass participation in the marches as another demonstration of support for the revolutionary process, with expectations for massive turnout across the country’s plazas.

In the days leading up to the commemoration, both traditional and digital media platforms shared stories of workers and union leaders, promotional clips, television and radio spots, as well as interviews with representatives from various unions who highlighted the mobilizing strength of the working class.

As a sign of global solidarity with Cuba, around one thousand international delegates from over 30 countries, representing more than one hundred labor organizations across five continents, will march alongside the Cuban people and denounce the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States government, which obstructs the full development of the country's productive forces.