https://themilitant.com/2019/01/12/ny-event-celebrates-60th-anniversary-of-cuban-revolution/
NY event celebrates 60th anniversary of Cuban Revolution
By Brian Williams
Vol. 83/No. 3
January 21, 2019
NEW YORK — Peter Thierjung, chairperson of the New York Socialist
Workers Party, began the short program at a spirited celebration of the
60th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution here Jan. 5 by quoting Raúl
Castro, first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba.
“No one can deny that the revolution that was born that January 1st has
not had a minute’s calm over 60 years,” Castro had said at a Jan. 1
rally in Santiago de Cuba, the day that the revolution triumphed in
1959. “We have seen 12 U.S. administrations that have not ceased in the
effort to force a regime change in Cuba.”
Though it’s 60 years, “the revolution has not aged, it is still young,”
continued Castro. “The new generations have the duty to ensure that the
Cuban Revolution is forever a revolution of young people, and at the
same time, a socialist revolution of the humble, by the humble, and for
the humble.”
The event, sponsored by the SWP in New York and Northern New Jersey,
drew over 60 people for the talks and an evening of fine food,
discussion and celebration. Present were special guests Counselor Jorge
Peña and First Secretary Rolando Vergara from the Cuban Mission to the
U.N., and participants from Albany, Philadelphia, and New Haven,
Connecticut.
Thierjung invited everyone present to join in fighting against the U.S.
capitalist rulers’ ongoing economic and political attacks against the
Cuban Revolution.
Samantha Hamlin, a Walmart worker and member of the SWP in Albany, told
those at the gathering the impact that participating in the
International May Day Brigade to Cuba last year had on her.
“May Day has a different feel when you’re in a place where workers have
power,” she said. “My experiences on the brigade convinced me to join
the SWP. Socialist revolution in the U.S. is possible and we can build a
movement for the working class to take political power here.”
She urged those in attendance to sign up for this year’s April 21-May 5
brigade. Participants will learn about the history of the Cuban
Revolution and challenges facing workers and farmers there today.
Osborne Hart, SWP candidate for mayor of Philadelphia, told the
celebration that he came to the SWP “because of the inspiration of the
Cuban Revolution and what workers and peasants accomplished there.” Hart
described how the party gets out widely to meet with working people “on
porches and at farmhouses” to discuss how we can fight to defend
ourselves from the attacks by the bosses and their government. And the
example set by Cuban workers and farmers.
Peña thanked those present for their solidarity with Cuba’s revolution.
Participants contributed over $2,800 to support the ongoing work of the
Socialist Workers Party.
In This Issue
Front Page Articles •Socialist Workers Party launches Texas campaign
•Fight to extend right to vote for ex-prisoners!
•US, Chinese rulers’ trade talks continue amid rivalry
•SWP wins a hearing in Kentucky coal country
•Ex-prisoners turn out to register to vote in Florida rights victory
•LA teachers call for workers, parents, students to join strike rally on
Jan. 14
Feature Articles •New book ‘In Defense of the US Working Class’
Also In This Issue •Over half a million people in US have nowhere to live
•Half of adults have had family members thrown in jail
•‘Yellow vest’ protests respond as French gov’t cracks down
•Albany DA drops charges against Ellazar Williams
•NY event celebrates 60th anniversary of Cuban Revolution
•Beijing forces a million Uighurs into ‘re-education’ camps
25, 50 and 75 years ago
Letters
© Copyright 2019 The Militant - 306 W. 37th Street, 13th floor - New
York, NY 10018 - themilitant@xxxxxx
--
________________________________________________
Jules Verne
“ Reality provides us with facts so romantic that imagination itself could add
nothing to them. ”
― Jules Verne