Radio Cadena Agramonte emisiora de Camagüey
On a somber day marked by injustice, Cuban history remembers with sorrow the execution of eight brave medical students who, on November 27, 1871, became victims of a cruel and false accusation.
Accused of desecrating the tomb of Don Gonzalo de Castañón, director of the newspaper “La Voz de Cuba” and venerated as a martyr of integrism, these young men faced their tragic fate with a bravery that transcends time.
Under oppressive Spanish rule, the integrity and honor of these students were tarnished by unfounded rumors that stained their memory and cost them their lives. Nevertheless, their story was not forgotten. Former medical student and friend of the martyrs, Dr. Fermín Valdés Domínguez, took up the mantle of truth and for fifteen years gathered irrefutable evidence that proved the accusations false. His tireless work became a beacon of hope in the darkness.
With profound sadness and reverence, Valdés Domínguez knelt before the tomb of his fallen comrades, immortalizing their memory with a simple yet powerful epitaph that would resonate in the hearts of those who fight for justice: “Innocent!” These words encapsulate not only the truth about the students but also a call to the collective memory of a people who must not forget their history.
Today, more than a century later, we remember those young people who died unjustly and honor their legacy. They faced adversity with dignity, and although their lives were cut short, their spirit endures in the fight for justice and truth. The story of the eight medical students is a reminder that the fight against injustice is a duty that each generation must assume, so that their sacrifices are never in vain. Let us always remember, "Innocents!" (Text: Arleén Calvo Lacal/Radio Cadena Agramonte) (Photos: Taken from the Internet)
