54 years ago today, on 8 October 1967, Che Guevara was captured in the jungles of Bolivia leading Bolivian and Cuban guerrillas in a struggle to free the country from capitalist and imperialist exploitation. He was executed on the orders of the CIA the next day.
Nine days later, speaking to a rally of more than one million people in Havana, Fidel Castro declared the date, 'Day of the Heroic Guerrilla'.
“Che died defending no other interest, no other cause than the cause of the exploited and oppressed of this continent. Che died defending no other cause than the cause of the poor and humble of this earth … Before history, people who act as he did, people who do and give everything for the cause of the poor, grow in stature with each passing day and find a deeper place in the heart of the people with each passing day.”
The nickname “Heroic Guerrilla” is a reference to the iconic photograph of Che Guevara known as Guerrillero Heroico. It was taken in 1960 by Alberto Korda. Day of the Heroic Guerrilla was created to honour the national hero of Cuba and recognise his contribution to the Cuban Revolution.
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