On this day in 1959, U.S.-backed Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista fled the country following the victory of Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement (M-26-7) at the Battle of Santa Clara, marking the successful conclusion of the Cuban Revolution.

The 26th of July Movement takes its name from the date of with a failed attack on the Moncada Barracks in 1953, however, the movement bearing this name was not formally organized until the attackers were released from prison in 1955. Public resistance continued sporadically until November 1956, when 80 members of the M-26-7 returned from exile.

Soon after landing on the island, a separate revolutionary group, the "Directorio Revoluncionari Estudiantil" (DRE), unsuccessfully attempted an attack on the Presidential Palace in Havana.

Throughout 1957, armed resistance from groups such as the DRE and M-26-7 would escalate. After a failed offensive by the government against rebels in the summer of 1958, the rebels launched a major counter-offensive.

On December 28th, 1958, after a fraudulent election in favor of Batista, revolutionary forces reached the city of Santa Clara. Seizing equipment from an armored train intended to transport government reinforcements, the rebels quickly captured the city, prompting Batista to panic and flee to the Dominican Republic with a personal fortune of more than $300 million.

In the following days, revolutionary forces entered Havana with no resistance, and Castro established a provisional government. The 26th of July Movement later reformed along Marxist–Leninist lines, becoming the Communist Party of Cuba in October 1965.

Batista later settled in fascist Spain, dying there in 1973 at the age of 72.

The Motorcycle Diaries by Ernesto "Ché" Guevara

Reminiscences of the Cuban Revolutionary War by Ernesto "Ché" Guevara

History Will Absolve Me by Fidel Castro

To the U.N. General Assembly, The Problem of Cuba and its Revolutionary Policy by Fidel Castro

r/Communism Cuba and Fidel Castro Megathread

r/Communism Another Cuba and Fidel Megathread

lecture from Michael Parenti about Cuba

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Links To Resources (Aid and Theory):

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Theory:

  • blipblip [none/use name, they/them]
    ·
    9 days ago

    I'm not sure if I'm giving approachable or what but people seem to pick me out of a crowd of people waiting for public transit to ask questions like 'does this go to x' or 'how do I get to y' doesn't matter if there's 10 people waiting I'm the guy to ask apparently

    Doesn't matter if I have headphones on even, they'll walk past other people to ask me. Not that I mind or anything I'm just not sure why it keeps happening ya know?

    • GalaxyBrain [they/them]
      ·
      9 days ago

      I've got that going on too, and I for sure don't look thst approachable. I absolutely am and generally enjoy talking to strangers, so it isn't a problem, I just find it weird they'd pick me

    • Acute_Engles [he/him, any]
      ·
      9 days ago

      Are you looking at them in the face? That's a prime invitation to start communicating. If not I'm sorry for your luck

      • blipblip [none/use name, they/them]
        ·
        9 days ago

        This most recent time I guess? It was literally like 5 minutes between me looking at him and then him coming over and asking me something though.

        Usually no, at least not that I can remember. I know at least one time recently they came up behind me and tapped me on the shoulder.

          • blipblip [none/use name, they/them]
            ·
            9 days ago

            I was standing towards the edge of the train platform that time so it's not like they could've walked in front of me to get my attention but it did still scare the shit out of me lmao

    • Tomboymoder [she/her, pup/pup's]
      ·
      9 days ago

      People do this to me I think because I look like a girl/non-threatening.
      A lot of the time it will be older folks or guys.

      • President_Obama [they/them]
        ·
        9 days ago

        because I look like a girl

        Well, you are a girl, no? Or do you use she/her but don't identify as a woman? (If so I'm very sorry for assuming )

        • Tomboymoder [she/her, pup/pup's]
          ·
          9 days ago

          No, I’m a trans woman. I just don’t know how well I pass in all scenarios.
          I’m a short lil shrimp, so at the very least not super threatening, but sometimes I get the vibe dudes chose to ask me specifically for an excuse to talk to a girl.