“We will be the protagonists of the victory,” says Cuban Ambassador during Antifascist Cultural Marathon

ByEmir Olivares Alonso

This article by Emir Olivares Alonso originally appeared in the April 19, 2026 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

Mexico City. Before hundreds of people commemorating the defeat of U.S. imperialism on the sands of Playa Girón 65 years ago, the Cuban ambassador to Mexico, Eugenio Martínez Enríquez, was clear: “You and we will not be witnesses to Cuba’s defeat; we will be protagonists of its victory.”

The diplomat participated in the Antifascist Cultural Marathon in Support of Cuba, where he emphasized that the people of the Caribbean nation will not surrender: “Of course, many Cubans will fall, but Cuba’s choice is to resist, and when that happens, no people are defeated, there is no surrender until one surrenders. And the Cuban people will never surrender!”

The event was being held at the Monument to the Revolution with various cultural activities.

Scenes from the Antifascist Cultural Marathon in support of Cuba at the Monument to the Revolution, which has been illuminated with the colors of the Cuban flag. Photo: Luis Castillo/La Jornada

In his speech, the ambassador thanked President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo for her call yesterday during the fourth Summit in Defense of Democracy in Barcelona, ​​where she called for a declaration against “a military intervention” on the island.

“Know that we are still under the positive and emotional impact of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s powerful words in Barcelona. What we witnessed yesterday was an awakening of dignity, the dignity of our America there in Europe, the dignity of our people. The precise words to reject the interference against Cuba and the right of Cubans to decide our future without interference.”

The hundreds of attendees at the event—organized by the Antifascist Cultural League and currently concluding with a performance by the Orquesta Aragón, the historic Cuban ensemble founded in 1939 in Cienfuegos—raised their voices in a single cry: “Cuba yes, blockade no!”

At the conclusion of his remarks, in a brief interview, the representative of Havana in our country stated that the Mexican president’s speech at the summit of progressive leaders was “accurate and historic,” particularly when she referred to the situation in Cuba, which faces a complex situation due to the tightening of measures against it unilaterally imposed by the United States and exacerbated by the fuel embargo imposed by Donald Trump last January.

“In the case of Cuba, as our government expressed through its Foreign Minister (Bruno Rodríguez), we appreciate this proposal for a collective statement to prevent a military intervention in Cuba, because there are threats from some leaders of the United States government to use the military option, which would be catastrophic, because our people will resist. Of course, many Cubans will fall, but Cuba’s option is to resist, and when that happens, no people are defeated, there is no surrender until one surrenders. And the Cuban people will never surrender!”

Martínez Enríquez expressed his gratitude that the governments of Brazil and Spain had joined Sheinbaum Pardo’s initiative to issue a joint statement against a possible U.S. military action in Cuba. “It was a dignified statement that recognizes the Cuban people’s right to self-determination.”

He emphasized that 65 years ago, with Commander Fidel Castro at the helm, the people of the Caribbean nation defeated imperialism on the sands of Playa Girón. And today, faced with Washington’s new threat, “the decision is to resist and to win. And I assure you that we will win.”

Photo: Jay Watts