A group of Cubans residing in Barcelona and other cities in Europe formally requested the City Council of Badalona to remove the monument dedicated to Che Guevara, denouncing that the monument represents political repression, racism, executions, and decades of suffering for the Cuban people.
The activists were received by Councilor David Mejía, who expressed respect and support for the initiative, rejected the glorification of figures associated with human rights violations, and committed to forwarding the case to the relevant departments of the city council to seek a resolution.
After the meeting, the Cubans gathered in front of the monument and publicly denounced their presence in the Spanish public space.
"Cubans from all over Europe have signed to remove this monument. It's as if you were to place a Nazi monument anywhere in the world for a German," declared one of the activists present.
The campaign promoters argue that the figure of Che Guevara is incompatible with democratic values and the rights of the LGBT community, and that the monument constitutes an affront to the Cuban victims of repression.
"Let these monuments be removed, as they go against democratic principles, and it seems disrespectful to us that in Spain, where so many Cubans live and contribute, there are monuments to individuals who have advocated for political violence," another activist stated.
The Cubans also submitted a formal letter addressed to the mayor, accompanied by signatures from compatriots in exile from various countries in Europe.
The signature collection officially began on March 28 and was aimed at Cubans residing in Spain, requiring only name and proof of residence.
The monument was inaugurated in 2007 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the guerrilla's death, promoted by the Casal d'amistat amb Cuba in collaboration with the Escola d'Art Pau Gargallo in Badalona and created by the Cuban artist Silvio Pérez.
According to activists, the placement was driven by the mayor of that year from the Catalan Socialist Party with the support of associations like Amics de Cuba.
"There is an association dedicated directly to Che Guevara, several Amics de Cuba, which are actually supporting the dictatorship, not the Cubans who truly need freedom," stated one of the participants in the protest.
Councilor Mejía responded clearly: "There are real possibilities. I will bring this up in government meetings, and we will see how we can channel it and apply this initiative that you are presenting, which, without a doubt, we believe is a just demand for the Cuban people."
The debate over monuments to revolutionary figures has gained momentum in recent years.
In July 2025, statues of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro were removed in Mexico City by order of the mayor of the Cuauhtémoc district, Alessandra Rojo de la Vega, due to irregularities in their installation and neighborhood complaints.
Similarly, in December, Bolivia took a symbolic step by removing the name of Ernesto “Che” Guevara, the "murderous hero", from one of its most well-known avenues in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, a decision that distances itself from the legacy of the Argentine-Cuban guerrilla.
In Spain, more than 250,000 Cubans reside, with Barcelona being one of the main centers of this community, which has been the focus of various protests against events and symbols that it considers a glorification of the dictatorship.
"Cubans who speak out against the dictatorship regime will not be allowed to enter Cuba again. This is a battle won, and I thank the city council of Badalona for telling us they agree to remove this monument," concluded one of the activists at the end of the event.
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