Briefing Note from the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in Finland and the Baltic States about the March of the Combatant People.
On December 20 of 2024, more than 500,000 Havana residents, representing the people, led by Army General and leader of the Revolution, Raúl Castro Ruz, and Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, marched in front of the United States Embassy in a massive demonstration against the blockade and the inclusion of the country on the list of State sponsors of terrorism drawn up by the State Department.
The rally was a great demonstration of popular support for the Revolution, as well as a show of unity in which the joy, confidence and optimism of the Cubans could be appreciated despite the daily difficulties caused by the maximum pressure policy of the American government. It was a march for life, honor, dignity and for the future of the heroic and peaceful people. Of great symbolism was the encouraging presence of Raúl as the main representative of that historic generation that led us to victory in 1959, walking firmly alongside the youth, who carried forward the premise of not failing those who dedicated their lives to defending national sovereignty.
The First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, highlighted that there are numerous statements by personalities from the United States and other countries around the world, demanding that President Biden use his power to at least remove from that spurious list “the name of a nation that should never have been on it.”
The president said - “it is at least false and immoral, wherever the accusation comes from, but it is doubly so when the accusation comes from US territory, where paramilitary groups are currently training to organize, promote and finance terrorist actions against the social and economic structures of Cuba.”
Díaz-Canel considered that “the permanence of Cuba on that list and the intensification of the blockade policy are ruthless actions towards the Cuban people, which must cease now.”
Throughout the journey, numerous slogans were heard condemning Washington's hostile policies; demanding the end of the blockade and the elimination of Cuba from the illegitimate and absurd “list”; and supporting the Revolution that in a few days will reach its 66th anniversary.
