Havana, May 1 (RHC) – Cubans across the island celebrated International Workers' Day on Tuesday. In Havana, nearly one million marched in the Plaza de la Revolucion, and it is estimated that more than six million people nation-wide took part in labor-related marches and functions.
Havana's José Martí Revolution Square was the venue of the main May Day event. The parade that began here at 7:30 am was presided over by the First Secretary of the Communist Party Raúl Castro, the just sworn -in president Miguel Diaz-Canel, and the Secretary General of the CTC, the Cuban Labor Confederation f Cuba, Ulises Guilarte.
The parades island-wide today are being regarded as a ratification by the Cuban labor movement and the Cuban people at large of their support for the Revolution and for the socialist system and the new government headed by President Miguel Diaz-Canel.
Hundreds of activists from Latin America, Europe, Asia and the United States are also in Cuba for the occasion, rallied under an International Solidarity Brigade.
Cubans paraded this May Day under the slogan "Unity, Commitment and Victory." They are also demanding an end of the United States' economic blockade against Cuba and the return of the territory illegally occupied by the U.S. at the Guantanamo naval base.