Report Back VCSC Celebrates July 26 "Moncada Day" A Celebration of The July 26th Movement & The Gains of the Cuban Revolution July 26 "Moncada Day" is the anniversary of the historic attack on the Moncada Barracks in Santiago de Cuba under the leadership of Fidel Castro with the paticipation of Raul Castro and another 160 brave young revolutionaries on July 26th, 1953. While originally not a military success, this heroic armed resistance aginst the corrupt puppet government of Fulgencio Batista on July 26th inspired the Cuban people and the creation of the July 26th movement which led to the triumphant victory of the Cuban Socialist Revolution in 1959. With its internationalism, the Cuban Revolution has brought not only a great assitance to many countries around the world, but domestically has achieved many gains including free education and free universal health care among other social equalities. All of this has been accomplished through the revolutionary work of the Cuban government and Cuban people, and despite 50 years of the US government's blockade against Cuba. On July 24th, over 50 people came out to the Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House in East Vancouver to celebrate the July 26th Movement in Cuba. Celebrated by Cubans and supporters of the Cuban revolution all over the world, this date marks the anniversary of a revolutionary attempt, but unsuccessful attack on the Moncada Barracks by Cuban revolutionaries in 1953. Led by Fidel Castro, this attack ultimately sparked the beginning of the Cuban Revolution and creation of July 26 Movement which triumphed six years later. Organized by Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC), the crowd participated in a night of music, film, and poetry, reflecting on the importance of this date in history to all of humanity. Colleen Glynn, the secretary of VCSC, welcomed people to the event and explained the history and the impact that July 26 Movement has had on the Cuban people. The first artists of the evening brought revolutionary poetry to everyone’s ears. Alejandro Mujica Olea, a passionate Chilean poet and host of the World Poetry Café program on Coop Radio, dedicated his poetry to the Cuban 5. Shakeel Lochan, an organizer with VCSC and a poet, recited an energetic piece inspired by July 26 Movement while he was in Cuba. Next, everyone had a chance to see a more personal side of Cuba through some short documentary films. ‘Fidel and Cuba,’ a short featurette from Saul Landau’s ‘Fidel!’, along with a touching storytelling by Danny Glover of ‘The Bird and the Prisoner’ about Gerardo Hernandez, one of the Cuban 5, gave a closer glimpse in to the lives and experiences of revolutionary Cubans. Various progressive organizations also brought greetings to the event. Janine Solanki, an organizer with VCSC who is currently in Cuba on the 21st Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba, spoke by phone of the festivities in Havana and their successful challenge of the US blockade. Sean Daly, from the Committee in Solidarity with the People of Honduras, wanted to express their solidarity with the people of Cuba on this special night. Noah Fine, an organizer with the Free the Cuban 5 Committee – Vancouver, explained that the Cuban 5 are unjustly imprisoned in US jails for defending Cuba and the same ideals that fueled the attack on Moncada in 1953. Tristan Douglas, a young folk musician from Vancouver Island, then brought sweet melodies and original music to the evening. The keynote address of the evening was given by Tamara Hansen, coordinator of VCSC and co-chair of the Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC). Explaining why it is important to celebrate such a day, she also read a passage from her newly published book, 5 Decades of the Cuban Revolution: The Challenges of an Unwavering Leadership , which is available from the Battle of Ideas Press. To finish the evening of celebrating Cuba and the gains of the revolution, the lights dimmed and everyone was taken away by the romantic and lively rhythms of Sangre Morena’s fiery Flameco guitar and beautiful Spanish language songs.	Click on Photos to Enlarge!