The government is repairing the lighting at the Anti-Imperialist Tribune ahead of the march called by Díaz-Canel

Three workgroups from the Electric Company of Havana are engaged in restoring the lighting in the areas surrounding the Anti-Imperialist Tribune, located in the Plaza de la Revolución municipality. This is part of the preparations for the "March of the Combatant People" called for by the Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel.

On the social network Facebook, the entity announced the operation ahead of the mobilization scheduled for December 20, following the closure of the National Assembly of People's Power session.

According to Díaz-Canel, this mobilization aims to reaffirm popular support for the government amidst the worst economic crisis the country is facing.

"Yes, there is a blockade, yes the blockade has intensified, yes there is an economic war, yes we are despised, and yes we are poisoned with hate on social media... In response to this hostile policy, we call on the heroic Cuban people to a combat march," the leader and first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) stated.

Preparations and symbolism

The repair of streetlights at the Anti-imperialist Tribune does not go unnoticed, as this location is iconic for government gatherings. The effort to improve the infrastructure reflects the significance the government places on this march, seen as a symbolic act to reaffirm its authority amid social discontent and the economic crisis.

This call comes in an environment characterized by a scarcity of resources, increasing social tensions, and criticism of the management of the communist regime, which continues to attribute most internal problems to the U.S. embargo and a supposed "economic war" waged from abroad.

Additionally, the march will serve as a gauge to measure popular support at a crucial moment for the regime.

A propaganda event conceived by the Great Dictator

The "March of the Fighting People" is a concept that dates back to 1980, when the dictator Fidel Castro organized massive demonstrations to suppress those seeking asylum in the Peruvian embassy, marking the beginning of the Mariel exodus.

Those demonstrations were characterized by the violence instigated by the regime's institutions, the acts of repudiation, and slogans such as "We don't want them, we don't need them," "Out with the traitors," and "Let the scum go!" This established a dark precedent in Cuba's historical memory.

Orchestrated through large forced mobilizations of military personnel, workers, and students, these marches—requiring scarce resources in Cuba, such as public transportation and fuel—have been designed as propaganda events that typically do not attract the children and privileged members of the Communist elite.

Frequently Asked Questions about the March of the Fighting People in Cuba