Cuban Student Revolutionaries Attack the Presidential Palace in 1957

Today in Latin American history, Cuban student revolutionaries stormed the presidential palace in Havana in a failed attempt on the life of President Fulgencio Batista in 1957.

Student leader José Antonio Echeverría was killed by police outside Radio Reloj in Havana after announcing that Batista had been killed in a student attack on the Presidential Palace.

In reality, Batista survived, and the students of the FEU and DR who led the attack were killed in the response by the military and police.

Other events that occurred on this day:

Today in LatAm history, Nojpetén, capital of the Itza Maya kingdom, fell to Spanish conquistadors, the final step in the Spanish conquest of Guatemala in 1697

Today in LatAm history, former President of Honduras Carlos Roberto Reina who was in office 1994-98 was born in 1926

Today in LatAm history, Argentine musician and songwriter Fito Páez was born in 1963

Today in LatAm history, Colombian footballer Andrés Escobar who played for the National team & Atlético Nacional was born in 1967

Today in LatAm history, Venezuelan baseball player Johan Santana who plays for the New York Mets was born in 1979

Today in LatAm history, Brazilian born soprano Bidu Sayão who performed with the Metropolitan Opera for 15 years died in 1999