The Moncada trial opens

Haydée Santamaría and Melba Hernández survived imprisonment and later helped circulate Fidel Castro’s defence speech.

Before the attack, Castro framed the action as a struggle to restore popular sovereignty and the democratic Constitution of 1940.

Haydée Santamaría and Melba Hernández participated directly, preserved testimony and later helped reproduce the political programme of the movement.

A significant group of young workers and activists from Artemisa joined the attacks; many were killed after capture by Batista’s forces.

After several days in the hills outside Santiago, Fidel Castro surrendered to a patrol. Lieutenant Pedro Sarría prevented his immediate killing and delivered him for trial.

Fidel Castro delivered his own defence, outlining demands for constitutional government, land reform, education and social justice.

The court sentenced Castro to fifteen years of imprisonment on the Isle of Pines, where surviving Moncada prisoners organized political study.

The Moncada defence demanded land for tenants, profit sharing for workers, support for small farmers, honest government and restored constitutional rights.

Castro invoked José Martí while arguing that formal independence had not ended inequality, foreign economic domination or political corruption.

Fulgencio Batista became constitutional president after his main opponent withdrew, arguing that repression made a fair election impossible.