President Miguel Díaz-Canel met with founders of the Association of Young Rebels and Juventud Rebelde staff to commemorate the AJR's 65th anniversary and the newspaper's 60th. Held at the José Martí Memorial, the event highlighted generational unity in defending the Revolution. Youth leaders shared experiences on current challenges like the US blockade and drug prevention.
The gathering, led by Meyvis Estévez Echavarría, first secretary of the Union of Young Communists (UJC), brought together veterans and youth in Havana. It marked the 65th anniversary of the AJR's creation on October 21, 1960, spurred by Che Guevara and commanded by Joel Iglesias, and the 60th anniversary of Juventud Rebelde, founded on October 21, 1965.
Founders like Amalia Catalá Álvarez noted: "My generation had great merits, but today's has tremendous merit, and the torch lit by the Association of Young Rebels' founding has not gone out; that torch continues to grow in you." Luis Enrique Colomé Dagnesses added: "Our struggle was hard, but yours is more difficult, because the enemy has much more sophisticated weapons, like social media."
Current UJC, FEU, and FEEM leaders discussed nationwide meetings on the US blockade's impact, anti-drug efforts in workplaces and communities, and Student Work Brigades contributing to agriculture and urban sanitation. Fernando, UJC's first secretary in Mayabeque, praised a youth column for Fidel's centenary, akin to the 1960s one.
National Journalism Award winner Juana Carrasco Martín reflected on Juventud Rebelde's challenges: "The battle is also on the streets and at work, in always being on the job." Deputy director Yurisander Guevara proposed transforming UJC media through projects linking youth movements and AI advances from university faculties to foster critical thinking.
Díaz-Canel focused on the UJC slogan: study, work, and rifle. On study, he urged knowing Cuban history, culture, and identity to defend socialism as essential for sovereignty. On work, he cited collectives solving issues amid the blockade, worker exodus, and shortages, stating: "Where there is more work, there are always more results." On rifle, he stressed participation in the entire people's war. He recalled his personal ties to Juventud Rebelde from his youth, joining edition closings during the Special Period.