On April 4th, 1927, the pages of the newspaper El Camagüeyano, published an article from the Havana newspaper El Mundo in which they openly express and define their position against the extension of powers (method used by Gerardo Machado to stay in power), a situation that causes a stir due to its direct link with the president. Among the elements that the publication expresses, it highlights the recognition of the attitude assumed by the students, who without having a vote in the elections, raise their voices to pronounce their disagreement on behalf of the people.

They made their voices heard precisely with the creation in that same year of the first University Student Directory which, although it did not achieve its objectives, according to Le Riverend, waged the initial battles that the moment required, due to which a large group was expelled from the university, and another in 1930 to overthrow the machadato.

Actions carried out by students in Camagüey

Various actions are carried out in the provinces to express their opposition. In the case of Camagüey, according to the book Historical Index of the province of Camagüey, the students of the Secondary Education Institute publish their first manifesto, under the name “To the people of Cuba. In it, they not only speak out against the extension, but also against the Aguiar Law, as a result of the unanimous agreement of the general assembly held by the Student Association of said institution. However, not all sign, due to possible reprisals.

Other actions were aimed at throwing tomatoes at public political events. However, according to a note published at the request of the students of that center, during a visit to the editorial office of the newspaper El Camagüeyano, the activities carried out in solidarity with Havana were not attending classes that day, thus demonstrating their protest against the events that occurred around the Reform of the Constitutional Law. Likewise, the student commission presented mentions that on Monday they would restart and continue classes normally.

Conclusions

Although there are different criteria regarding the initial activities carried out by the student body of those years, the truth is that they were part of a generalized protest, which would be a prelude to the path assumed by the student movement, in the 1930s, with a substantial weight.

Bibliography

Instituto Cubano del Libro. Índice histórico de la provincia de Camagüey 1899-1952. 1970.

Le Riverend, Julio. La República. Dependencia y Revolución. Editorial de Ciencias Sociales, 2001.

Periódico El Camagüeyano. Estudiantes suspendieron ayer las clases del Instituto. 2 de abril de 1927.

Periódico El Camagüeyano. La prórroga de poderes solamente para el presidente de la República es la fórmula del Diario “El Mundo”, 4 de abril de 1927.

Rodríguez Portal, Edelmira. Joven Cuba en Camagüey. Ediciones Universidad de Camagüey y Editorial Ácana. Camagüey, 2015.

Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García