By Duane Stilwell

HAVANA, Cuba, May 1, 2025 — About 5.3 million people, nearly half of the country’s population of 11 million, filled the streets of cities, towns, and municipalities across the Caribbean island today to celebrate International Workers’ Day. Estimates of the turnout came from eyewitness accounts and reports in the Cuban media

In Havana, the country’s capital, the chants in the streets could be heard starting shortly after 2 a.m.

This article was updated on May 6, 2025. We removed an aerial photo published in this space. The photo was given to the author digitally through social media but we subsequently found out it was from May Day 2019, and had been published in the Cuban daily Granma at that time. We apologize for the error.

The May Day mobilization in Cuba, arguably the most important annual holiday in this island nation, is an inspiring event that brings together all of the country’s trade unions and much of its population.

Because of the scale of the march and the lack of fuel caused by the U.S. blockade, many of the 600,000 who marched in the main parade in Havana walked more than 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) to reach their assigned starting point near Revolution Square.

The lack of fuel also meant that the main march in Havana was scaled back. Throngs participated in marches and rallies in cities and towns across the island, including other areas of the capital city and its surroundings.

What makes this celebration unusual is the breadth of participation. The trade unions organize the turnout of the vast majority of working people — from furniture workers to teachers, from artists to hotel workers, and from warehouse employees to those responsible for customs at ports of entry. University professors and museum workers were also represented by their respective trade unions.

Members of Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) took part in large numbers.

A 40,000-strong “army of white coats,” representing Cuba’s health sector, led the march in Havana. It included doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel, many of whom have served in internationalist missions in more than 100 countries around the world.

There were also more than 1,000 international guests representing some 269 unions and solidarity organizations from 39 countries.

The march began at 7 a.m.

Leaders of the Cuban government presided over the concluding rally at Havana’s Revolution Square about two hours later. The only speaker was Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento, General Secretary of the Confederation of Cuban Workers (CTC) and member of the Communist Party’s Political Bureau.

In his brief remarks, de Nacimiento called for ending Washington’s economic war. “We will continue relentlessly the battle we have waged to consolidate our freedom, our independence and for social justice,” he said. “The confirmation is the sea of people flooding our streets all over the country under the banner ‘For Cuba, United We Create,’ which embodies and ratifies our conviction that unity is the guarantee of our victory.”

De Nacimiento highlighted the commitment by most Cubans to find solutions to the severe economic challenges and other difficulties the U.S.-led economic war has imposed on the country and its people.

“A sea marched toward Revolution Square this May Day,” began the report in Trabajadores, the CTC’s daily newspaper, covering the mobilization in Havana. “It was certainly a sea of workers and other people, men, women, old, young, teenagers, and kids who came together to form this multicolored and enthusiastic stream, showing the world once again that Cubans defend their revolution and won’t be intimidated by blockades or threats.”

According to Trabajadores, more than 300,000 marched in Santiago, the country’s second-largest city. About 90,000 turned out in Sancti Spiritus. Similar mobilizations took place in Artemisa, Ciego de Ávila, Guantánamo, Holguín, Island of Youth, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio, and virtually every city and town across the country.

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