“We cannot be indifferent to
what happens anywhere in
the world, for a victory by any
country over imperialism is our
victory; just as any country’s
defeat is a defeat for all of us.”
-Ernesto “Che” Guevara
These words are a few of the
many profound thoughts
shared by revolutionary hero
Che Guevara. This leader
of the Cuban Revolution,
of Argentinian origin, not
only spoke but acted upon these words.
After the triumph of the 1959 Cuban
Revolution, he joined revolutionary
struggles in Congo and Bolivia, where
he was murdered by CIA. June 14 would
have marked his birthday, which in Cuba
and here in Vancouver is an opportunity
to celebrate a hero whose example
continues to inspire millions of people in
the fight for a better world.
On June 14
Vancouver Communities in Solidarity
with Cuba (VCSC) held an event to
celebrate the birthday of Che Guevara,
with special guests direct from Cuba!
The packed event started out with
an introduction by Tamara Hansen,
coordinator of VCSC, before the program
began with a series of video clips outlining
the exceptional life of Che Guevara. To
welcome the Cuban guests to Indigenous
territory, Coast Salish elder Kelly White
shared a song and drummed, raising her
voice in a solidarity call of “Viva Cuba!”
Participants were then treated to a poem
paying tribute to Che Guevara by Mayra
Climaco, a Nicaraguan poet, social justice
activist and former Sandinista fighter.
Another beautiful poem was shared by
Macarena Cataldo, a Chilean poet and
activist with Proyecto
Cultural Sur
– Vancouver.
The program
also included
greetings from
Jaime Coreas
on behalf of the
FMLN Vancouver.
The audience then
heard from the
featured Cuban
speakers, beginning
with Sandra Ramirez
Rodriguez,
Director of the North
America Desk of the Cuban Institute
of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP).
Sandra spoke about how Che Guevara’s
legacy is reflected in the ongoing Cuban
Revolution today. She was followed
by Yamil Martinez Marrero from the
Canada Desk of the Cuban Institute of
Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP),
who talked about Che’s central ideas of
internationalism, which are practiced
today in Cuba and reflected also in the
Cuba solidarity movement.
On June 16
VCSC took these discussions from
indoors to Vancouver’s summer streets,
with a table at two June festivals. On
June 16, VCSC had a table at the Main
Street Car Free Festival, an annual event
drawing tens of thousands of people to 21
blocks of festivities.
Many people followed the chalk lettering
on the street reading “End the
Blockade on Cuba!” and stopped
at the VCSC information table to
talk to organizers, get literature
about Cuba and to sign a petition
against the U.S. blockade on
Cuba.
On June 22
VCSC was proud to have a
table at the East Side Pride
festival, as a community
partner of the Vancouver
Pride events happening
throughout the season.
Many people were attracted to
the table by a banner reading “Cuba
Says: Sexual Diversity is not Dangerous!
Homophobia and Transphobia are!” and
a Cuban and Pride flag flying above
the table together. Organizers talked
to people about the advances Cuba has
and is making for LGBTQAI2S+ rights,
and many also signed on to the petition
against the U.S. blockade against Cuba.
VCSC was also scheduled in the program
and brought a bit of Cuba to the event
by contributing a salsa lesson! VCSC
organizer Janine Solanki got the crowd
up on their feet, learning salsa steps and
dancing to Cuban music!
VCSC is taking advantage of the
summer weather to bring Cuba solidarity
to festivals and outdoor events – to find
out more visit www.vancubasolidarity.com or on Facebook and Twitter @VanCuba_VCSC
Follow Janine Solanki on Twitter: @janinesolanki
Back to Article Listing
