Fidel Castro Declared Cuba Would Adopt Communism in 1961

Today in Latin American history, in a nationally broadcast speech, Cuban leader Fidel Castro declared that he was a Marxist-Leninist and that Cuba was going to adopt Communism in 1961.

Castro declared, “I am a Marxist-Leninist and shall be one until the end of my life.” He went on to state that, “Marxism or scientific socialism has become the revolutionary movement of the working class.” He also noted that communism would be influential in Cuban politics.

Castro remained in power until February 2008.

Other events that occurred on this day:

Today in LatAm history, Dominican baseball player Pedro Borbón who pitched for the Cincinnati Reds was born in 1946

Today in LatAm history, the Granma yacht reached the shores of Cuba’s Oriente province where Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and 80 other members of the 26th of July Movement disembarked to initiate the Cuban Revolution in 1956

Today in LatAm history, Fidel Castro became President of Cuba replacing Osvaldo Dorticós Torrado in 1976

Today in LatAm history, Four U.S. nuns and churchwomen, Ita Ford, Maura Clarke, Jean Donovan, and Dorothy Kazel, are murdered by a death squad in El Salvador in 1980

Today in LatAm history, Cuban actor and band leader Desi Arnaz who starred in “I Love Lucy” died in 1986

Today in LatAm history, Uruguayan footballer Gastón Ramírez who plays for the National team & Southampton F.C. was born in 1990

Today in LatAm history, Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar is shot and killed while attempting to flee police in Medellín in 1993