Havana, November 27 (RHC)-- Cubans today commemorate the 153rd anniversary of the shooting of the eight medical students, considered one of the most atrocious crimes committed on the island by Spanish colonialism.

As is traditional, hundreds of students will make a pilgrimage today from the steps of the University of Havana to the monument that commemorates the vile murder, at Prado and Malecón, in Old Havana.

On November 24, 1871, students of the first year of Medicine were waiting in the Anatomical Amphitheater for the arrival of their professor Pablo Valencia, who was to give a class, but upon learning that he would be late, several of them decided to attend the dissection practices of Dr. Domingo Fernández Cubas.

According to historical notes, some of them entered the cemetery, located near the school, and walked around its courtyards, since entry was not prohibited, and one of them, Alonso Álvarez de la Campa, took a flower that was in front of the cemetery offices, which provoked the anger of the caretaker, named Vicente Cobas.

Cobas accused them of scratching the glass that covered the niche where the remains of the Spanish journalist Gonzalo Castañón, director of La Voz de Cuba, spokesman for the volunteer corps, who had been killed by a Cuban patriot in Cayo Hueso, rested.

The students were arrested and tried in a summary trial, but the verdict was not accepted, and a second one was held, and it was decided to sentence the young men to the maximum penalty.

Three others were chosen at random to carry out the punishment.

The eight students sentenced to death were led with their hands handcuffed and a crucifix between them to the Punta esplanade, where the execution took place.

(Source: Prensa Latina)