Youth event celebrating
Chávez and Fidel

Poignant and enthusiastically pro-Latin America was the march which passed through the streets of Havana on Monday, July 28, launching Cuban youth’s tribute to two giants of history, revolutionary brothers Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías and Fidel Castro Ruz, on the anniversary of the Venezuelan leader’s birth.

Leading the enthusiastic crowd were Kenia Serrano, president of the Cuban Friendship Institute (ICAP), Edgar González, advisor to the Venezuelan Embassy in Havana and Sucelys Morfa, second secretary of the Young Communist League (UJC) National Committee.

Also participating in the march, organized by the UJC, Cuban student and youth movements and other organizations, was anti-terrorist and Decorated Hero of the Republic of Cuba, Fernando González.

Early on that morning, Cubans and other young people from various nations met at the foot of the Simón Bolívar statue, on the capital’s Avenida de los Presidentes, where they paid tribute to the Liberator and to Hugo Chávez - his most faithful disciple - on the anniversary of his birth.

Continuing to create the New Homeland is the greatest and only worthy tribute to Chávez and all our heroes and martyrs, stated Yusuam Palacios, president of the José Martí Youth Movement, who led participants in the march which ended at the University of Havana.

"Chávez vive, la lucha sigue" (Chávez lives, the struggle continues), repeated the participants, over and again, who under a harsh sun, marched with happy hearts in celebration of the inspiring life of this extraordinary and greatly loved man.

There, at the top of University Hill, was where Hugo Chávez received the Cuban youth, during his first visit to Cuba and first meeting with Fidel in 1994, shortly after his release from prison - very young then, but already great, genuine and committed to realizing Bolivar’s dream and finishing what he started.

His image, his voice, his admiration for the Cuban Revolution and its Comandante en Jefe Fidel Castro, his conviction that the 21st century will see the resurrection and victory of Our America, reached those at the very end of the crowd who responded, shouting "¡Uh, ah, Chávez no se va!"
(Uh, ah, Chávez isn’t going!)

Recalling the words spoken by José Martí, repeated by Chavez on more than one occasion, "Love is repaid with love," a floral wreath was placed at the feet of the statue of Simón Bolívar and before the plaque crafted with infinite affection, in remembrance of Chavez on his visits to the country and to the bicentenary institution of higher education.