Cuba "defends the homeland" on May 1 amid tensions with the US
During the rally, the government stated that it had collected more than six million signatures from Cubans in recent weeks "for the homeland and for peace," the symbolic compilation of which was handed over to Raúl Castro and Díaz-Canel.
TL;DR
- Cuba held a massive May Day parade in front of the US embassy in Havana.
- The demonstration was organized to "defend the homeland" and denounce US threats of military aggression and the ongoing blockade.
- Revolutionary leader Raúl Castro and President Miguel Díaz-Canel were present at the event.
- The government claimed hundreds of thousands participated in the rally.
- The government presented over six million collected signatures for "the homeland and for peace."
- Opponents have raised questions about the conditions under which some signatures were collected.
- The event occurred amidst significant economic crisis in Cuba, exacerbated by US sanctions.