Paying homage to a revolutionary

By Final Call | Last updated: Apr 25, 2018 - 1:55:38 PM

(L) Minister Louis Farrakhan carries flowers to lay at the tomb of the great freedom fighter Fidel Castro in Cuba. (R) Min. Farrakhan lays a bouquet of flowers in honor of the great Cuban leader and revolutionary Fidel Castro at his tomb.

During a recent trip to the Caribbean, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and a Nation of Islam delegation visited the island nation of Cuba. Min. Farrakhan and others paid homage to the late revolutionary and Cuban leader Fidel Castro by laying flowers at his tomb in Santiago de Cuba.

The visit followed numerous unsuccessful efforts to pay homage to President Castro over the last two years.

Comandante Castro served as president and first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba. He died of natural causes November 25, 2016 and survived an incredible number of attempts by the U.S. government to take his life.

Comandante Castro was cremated and his ashes were interred in the Santa Ifigenia cemetery December 4, 2016. Hundreds of thousands of Cubans marked his passing. He was 90 years old.

Min. Farrakhan and Fruit of Islam deliver final salute to comrade Fidel Castro.

Mr. Castro’s ashes were interred next to those of the 19th Century Cuban independence hero, Jose Marti.

Santiago is known as the birthplace of the Cuban Revolution. The revolution is marked by an attack on the Moncada barracks in Santiago on July 26, 1953 by Mr. Castro and other revolutionaries. The attack was not successful but is seen as the first effort to take down the brutal dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista, which was backed by the United States. The regime finally fell on January 1, 1959.

Comandante Castro’s tomb was built next to a mausoleum for Cuban patriot José Martí.

Min. Farrakhan next to portrait of Fidel Castro.

Following the overthrow of the U.S.-backed regime, Mr. Castro was a major figure on the world stage despite U.S. attempts to isolate him and destroy his revolution through death plots, political pressure, covert operations and an economic boycott of Cuba. His efforts to bring freedom, justice and equality to oppressed people with major support for African revolutionaries and freedom movements in Latin America made him a beloved and respected figure among the oppressed.

For over five decades, Fidel Castro inspired and supported putting an end to empires and offered Cuban military aid and doctors to those who suffered throughout the world. Today, a Cuban medical program exists that allows for the training of doctors for free. The only requirement is that they go back to serve their own suffering communities. Min. Farrakhan visited with participants in the Cuban medical program through the Nation of Islam while in the country.

Nation of Islam delegation greets Nation of Islam students in Cuba medical program and Cuban official.

The Final Call