Whenever January begins, many witnesses of that entrance of Fidel to Camagüey, relive the memories of him.
Looking for notes of the time, I found in the newspaper El Camagüeyano of January 6th, 1959, how the event is described: first upon arrival and after the rally held that night in the former Caridad Square.
The text
“(…) Around ten o’clock in the morning the motorized caravan where Fidel Castro was coming entered Camagüey through the Central Highway from the East. Standing on the tower of a large Sherman tank, Fidel Castro extended his hands in a broad cordial salute to the huge crowds that gathered everywhere and deliriously cheered.
A witness of those days of glory was the founder of the July 26th movement, Víctor Álvarez, that is why this winter morning, sitting on his balcony from where you can see the entire Libertad Avenue, up to the square where Fidel spoke to the people, we evoke memories.
Victor
This tireless contributor, from his wheelchair and at 86 years old, does not stop fighting, with more energy and desire to do than any adolescent; he is now the president of his PCC zonal group, an advisor to the Combatants Association and many other tasks that add to their work.
That is why he did not hesitate before my call, to make this trip back in time together, going back 60 years, to reach the days of the nascent Revolution.
The caravan
For Víctor the Caravan is unforgettable, as he recalls pointing with his index finger to the place; that was very exciting. Seeing the people through all the streets of the city, from the roofs, balconies and streets, as hundreds of people came out to watch Fidel go by in the tank, along with the rebels, was quite an event.
Since his arrival in Camagüey around 10:00 AM, the Commander visited several places, they were several stops before going to the square, first he went from Avellaneda to the airport, and there he appointed his prime ministers.
With the joy of all, a journey was made from Avellaneda; they entered through Van Horen, República, Cisneros to the Puente and Caridad Avenue, finally to Libertad Square.
An error was repeated for years, related to the actual site of the act, Víctor commented it to Commander Juan Almeida, who directed the combatants of the Camagüey’s Association to rectify the official place, from where El Comandante Fidel spoke to this town, which was right from the balcony of the school, at that time private, today Noel Fernández.
At night he went to the Plaza
With the square full of people, several comrades from the July 26th movement spoke, six exactly before Fidel, including a priest from the Pious churches, who helped with the movement, the act lasted until dawn.
There, addressing everyone present, he said: I have never seen a town turned like this onto the street, when many do not have even 10 cents in their pocket.
Our combatant gets excited, pauses and very seriously tells me: It was true, I did not have any money, I had not even had breakfast and since dawn I was walking in the street in order to ensure the entrance of the Rebels, and it was already too late in the night.
He assures that it was the sensed of shame of Agramonte and the courage of Joaquín de Agüero, which pushed this people to fight against the dictatorship and for freedom. Gesture made evident there when accompanying Fidel in those first hours of the revolution.
In the time
We return to the present, this journey to our roots, together with a man from Camagüey so dedicated and a lover of his land; it was excellent and emotional. He assures that the Revolution in Camagüey continues strong and vigorous, the Libertad Square was a witness and a symbol for this people, which do not believe in threats or traitors and that continues to stand despite the storms.
60 years later, after Fidel’s passage through the hearts of the people of Camagüey, we remain committed to being a large army; as he said then:
“We are going to fight against the empire of exploitation, abuse and injustice, because now we have a bigger army, the whole country.”
Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García
