Yesterday, the Cuban regime held a ceremony on Isla de la Juventud to mark the 71st anniversary of the release of the Moncada attackers from the Presidio Modelo, an event that took place on May 15, 1955. This official commemoration is part of the year-long celebration of the upcoming 100th birthday of the former dictator, Fidel Castro, which will be observed on August 13.
The event, overseen by the highest authorities of the special municipality, was filled with speeches affirming revolutionary ideals. The keynote speaker, Yander Zayas Pérez, a member of the Municipal Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), declared that "just as the young people of Moncada turned prison into a school and a stage, the people of the Isle commit to transforming every obstacle into an opportunity, every lack into creative drive, and every aggression into a reason to reaffirm their commitment to the Revolution," according to ACN.
Zayas Pérez also referenced President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who had previously stated: "In the face of external threats, our answer will always be the same: more unity, more resistance, more confidence in victory," the source reported.
The party leader went on to criticize what he described as the "tightening of the blockade and the energy siege by the United States," attributing to the U.S. embargo the challenges stemming from 67 years of dictatorial rule.
The ceremony celebrated the history of Presidio Modelo, recalling that after Fidel Castro's arrival in October 1953, the Moncada attackers established the Abel Santamaría Ideological Academy, built the Raúl Gómez García library, and organized an internal cooperative. On May 15, 1955, thirty young men, including Fidel Castro, Raúl Castro, and Juan Almeida, were released from prison following a popular campaign for amnesty. Castro had been sentenced to 15 years in prison in the Causa 37 of 1953 by the Santiago de Cuba Court of Urgency.
What the official event failed to mention is that the same Presidio Modelo, hailed as a symbol of revolutionary resistance, was used by Fidel Castro's own government to imprison thousands of political detainees after 1959, as per journalistic records, until its closure in 1967.
The irony of the event is underscored by recent data. On the day before the commemoration, May 14, Prisoners Defenders released a report titled: "Tortures, sexual assaults, and death threats mark a new absolute record of 1,260 political prisoners in Cuba."
Out of those 1,260 political and conscience prisoners, 785 were in actual prison, while 475 were under house arrest, forced labor without internment, or other restrictive measures as of the end of April 2026.
Since July 1, 2021, the date of the 11J protests, 2,048 people have been imprisoned in Cuba for political reasons, according to Prisoners Defenders. Among the new detainees in April 2026 were minors involved in the March 13 protests in Morón.
The event also highlighted the "My Signature for the Homeland" campaign as evidence of popular support: Zayas Pérez noted that over 46,000 signatures in Isla de la Juventud endorsed the movement. However, opponents and citizens reported coercion in workplaces, schools, and communities to force people to sign, describing the campaign as a political coercion mechanism disguised as voluntary support.
Zayas Pérez concluded his speech with the regime's oft-repeated propaganda mantra: "In Fidel's centenary, the memory of that May 15 becomes a symbol of continuity: Cuba does not bend, Cuba does not surrender, Cuba stands tall defending its right to exist free and sovereign." Meanwhile, Amnesty International warned in April that, despite the announcement of a pardon for 2,010 people on April 2, the process remained opaque and discretionary, and political repression had not ceased.
Key Questions About Political Imprisonment in Cuba
What is the significance of the Presidio Modelo in Cuban history?
Presidio Modelo is significant as it was the prison where Fidel Castro and other Moncada attackers were held before their release in 1955. It later became infamous under Castro's regime for detaining thousands of political prisoners.
How many political prisoners are currently in Cuba?
As of April 2026, there are 1,260 political prisoners in Cuba, with 785 in prison and 475 under house arrest or other restrictive measures.
What does the "My Signature for the Homeland" campaign represent?
The "My Signature for the Homeland" campaign is presented as a demonstration of popular support for the regime, but it has been criticized for involving coercion to obtain signatures.