Roundup: Cubans mark May Day with massive parade

Hundreds of thousands of Cubans took to the streets of Havana on Monday to commemorate International Workers Day with a massive parade.

Cubans carried placards that read "Fidel is here" or "Fidel lives on in the people," as well as images of Fidel Castro and his brother Raul Castro.

"There is a lot of commitment to the revolution, to socialism and to this country that has given us everything without asking for anything in return. We will always unconditionally support Fidel, Raul and all Cuban patriots," Daniel Martinez, an electrical engineer, told Xinhua.

Raul Castro, 85, has said that he will step aside as head of state in February 2018, after 12 years in power, although he will presumably continue as chief of the Communist Party until 2021.

It was also the first May Day parade following the death Fidel Castro in November.

Martinez said he felt particularly moved because, in his view, the nation faces new challenges as it works to update its economic and social system.

"It's important to contribute to our society and lead the way in this process to make our socialism prosperous and sustainable," he said.

Like Martinez, hundreds of thousands of Havana residents converged on Havana's iconic Jose Marti Revolution Square to show their commitment to the ideals Castro promoted in Cuba after he led the 1959 Revolution to oust dictator Fulgencio Batista.

Caridad Fernandez has attended May Day rallies here at the square for 25 years.

"The revolution freed us, returned our dignity as a nation and gave us the opportunity to have a society of well-being. That is what motivates me to come every year, like the rest of the thousands of Cubans," she said.

With this year's event dedicated to the generation that will carry on the legacy of the revolution, about 50,000 Cuban youth marched at the head of the parade, carrying a banner that stretched across some 10 traffic lanes with the words "Unity is our strength" written in red capital letters.

"The revolution must continue forward and that is how it will be. Our leaders and people can count on our youth to continue this project," Marta Velazquez, a college student, told Xinhua.

In a brief speech, Ulises Guilarte, the general secretary of the Central Union of Cuban Workers, underscored the country's "resolute" decision to continue building a "sovereign and socialist" nation, adding Cuba will not renounce its ideals of independence and social justice.

For more than 90 minutes, Raul Castro, flanked by other political leaders, waved to the crowds as they passed Revolution Square.

Workers in groups marched past the square, chanting slogans in support of Raul Castro and in tribute to Fidel.

More than 1,600 representatives of trade associations, institutions and social movements from 86 countries joined the march.

Alejandro Bobadilla, a union leader from Argentina, said "the Cuban Revolution is also part of Latin America, and to celebrate here today with its people is a unique moment." Endi