Speech by President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez at the March of the Combative People

Havana / December 20, 2024

Dear Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, leader of the Cuban Revolution;

Dear people of Cuba;

Havana residents;

Compatriots:

The current U.S. administration, which today has exactly one month left in the White House, has done nothing to move away from the line of reinforced blockade and economic suffocation of Cuba that was left as a legacy by the Republican administration that returns to the Oval Office in January.

With the application of the 243 additional measures and the maintenance of Cuba on the list of countries sponsoring terrorism, Biden has disciplinedly and cruelly complied with the policy that Trump approved during his term.

In recent weeks and days, there have been numerous statements by personalities from the United States and other parts of the world demanding that Biden use his power to at least remove from that spurious list the name of a nation that should never have been on it.

Pointing to Cuba as a State that supposedly sponsors terrorism is at the very least false and immoral, no matter where the accusation comes from, but it is doubly so when the accusation comes from US territory, where paramilitary groups that organize, promote and finance terrorist actions against social and economic structures in Cuba are currently training.

They are based in South Florida and do not hide to train. They do so publicly, in plain sight and with the protection of local authorities, even violating their own laws and international treaties.

This is how they have acted for many years, sheltering in their territory confessed terrorists from this continent, such as Luis Posada Carriles and Orlando Bosch, masterminds of the abominable crime in Barbados who, however, died peacefully in the United States without ever paying for their crimes.

Knowing such antecedents, no American ruler can classify Cuba as a terrorist State.

The current Government of that country knows this well. This was recognized by the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, last May when he declared to the media that there is no justification for Cuba to remain on that list.

They recognize it but do not act, because American policy towards Cuba was hijacked more than six decades ago by a mafia remnant of the Batista regime, based in southern Florida and before which they have shown weakness when it comes to acting coherently towards our country.

Cuba's continued presence on that list and the intensification of the blockade policy are ruthless actions against the Cuban people that must cease now!

When financial transactions are persecuted and impeded in our international trade, the Cuban people are being denied food, medicine, fuel, goods, supplies and merchandise essential for their survival.

When obstacles are placed on our exports or relations with our companies are persecuted and penalized, the country is being deprived of essential foreign currency to develop ourselves and to finance our project of social justice.

When the contracting of online services is prevented or academic and scientific exchanges are restricted, a blow is being dealt to a nation that seeks to develop and move forward with its own talent and efforts, in the midst of an increasingly interconnected world.

When a people is denied medicinal oxygen in the midst of a pandemic, and even other countries or foreign companies that can do so are intimidated, this is criminal action.

This is the day-to-day life in which Cuba, its people and its government struggle to make their way.

The United States' attempt to undermine the dignity of this people by means of the club has been destroyed today with this rally and combative march, which shows how high the honor of our country continues to be! (Applause.)

Since we launched the call for this march, the prophets of anti-Cuban hatred have been hysterically shouting that it would be a failure, calling for a boycott and lying about their motivations.

How little they know the Cuban people!   How much they still underestimate our patriotic and revolutionary convictions!

Other spokesmen of the US government and the anti-Cuban mafia in South Florida insisted on poisoning the networks with the false idea that this was an anti-American march.

We do not profess the slightest feeling of hatred or animosity against the American people. To the noble citizens of that country we extend all our respect, and our hand is always extended to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood between the two peoples.

It is the same hand that we have extended to all the governments of the United States, since the triumph of the Revolution until today, always based on a serious, respectful relationship and on equal terms.

But if the United States persists in its efforts to undermine our sovereignty, our independence, our socialism, it will only find rebellion and intransigence! (Applause.)

Every administration that has tried has been outlived by the Cuban Revolution, and it will continue to be so.

This will be a march, yes, a very anti-imperialist one! Against American imperialism and its attempt to impose itself in Cuba by force or seduction, we will march now and always! (Applause.)

We march now, to tell the United States Government: Let the Cuban people live in peace!

Down with interference! (Exclamations of: “Down!”)

Down with the blockade! (Exclamations of: “Down!”)

Down with unilateral coercive measures against Cuba! (Exclamations of: “Down!”)

Down with Cuba remaining on the list of state sponsors of terrorism! (Exclamations of: “Down!”)

Down with the genocide against the Cuban people! (Exclamations of: “Down!”)

Socialism or Death!

Homeland or Death!

We will win! (Exclamations of: “We will win!”)

(Shorthand Versions - Presidency of the Republic)