During the 1920’s, the University of Havana, the law career and political interests managed to join the Olivia Zaldívar from Camagüey and the eternal young Julio Antonio Mella in holy matrimony, a relationship that was not well received by the family of the bride. Her father Oscar Zaldívar, some relatives and friends of her, such as the lawyer Omelio Freyre, believed that the young man’s communist ideas would bring setbacks in Olivia’s life because they already knew about the revolutionary concerns that united them.
Wedding
Despite these reasons, the father gave his consent, but he did not attend the ceremony held on July 19th, 1924 in the Northern Municipal Court of Havana. The newlyweds traveled on their honeymoon to Camagüey city and stayed in the family residence, in La Vigía neighborhood, in two vacant rooms.
The couple spent the day at Olivín’s paternal grandparents’ house, located at López Recio 1½. From family testimonies it is known that Mella on his first visit to the city praised the beauty of it, its colonial style, all the charm it contains and the friendly and cultured welcome of its inhabitants.
Revolutionary actions
From the revolutionary action of Mella at the University, before the wedding, he began his approach to the city of Camagüey, always motivated by Olivia. The young woman communicates the problems that were taking place in the Institute of Second Education in her city during 1923.
For his part, Mella denounces these facts and this is recorded in the document of the First National Revolutionary Congress of Students with very precise words: “Professor of English at the Institute of Camagüey, unworthy mentor of the youth, whom he corrupts with his immoral examples and its degeneration “.
Other of the great actions of Julio Antonio Mella in support of the people of Camagüey are related to the confrontation between the students of the Institute and the police on September 18th, 1924.
He writes a letter to the public where he expressed that from his position as a student he had been offended by acts of this kind; He agrees with the people who asked for the resignation of the Director of the Institute and accused him of not being able, through his moral authority, to resolve the conflict and for finding the only solution in the police force and its abuses.
The Strike
In 1925, during their hunger strike, the people of Camagüey, mobilized by Olivia, repaid the support they had received from Mella. They tried to influence the Secretary of the Interior Rogelio Zayas Bazán, who was from Camagüey.
Several telegrams from influential sectors of Camagüey society requested his release: the Veterans Council, the president of the Rotary Club, the Camagüey City Council, the Councilors, the president of “La Unión” workers; The Ladies of La Vigía Committee sent two telegrams: one to Machado’s mother and the other in solidarity with the Mella Pro-Freedom Committee.
This is how Julio Antonio Mella came to Camagüey at the hands of the beautiful Olivia Zaldívar, who would become the mother of her daughter Natasha Mella and who professed fervent love for her in the most difficult and confusing moments. He became another admirer of our customs and found in this city support in his tireless struggle.
Bibliography
– Rodríguez Portal, E. (2016). “Tres Huellas en la Historia”. Revista Senderos. No 17.
– Mella, J. (1975). “Documento y Artículos. Acta de la Cuarta Sesión de Trabajo del Primer Congreso Nacional de Estudiantes”. Ed. Ciencia Sociales. La Habana.
Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García
