Cuban university students march in homage to eight medical students murdered in 1871

University students and residents of Havana are walking this Wednesday in tribute to eight innocent medical students that 148 years ago were executed by firing squad by Spanish colonial authorities for a crime they did not commit.

Mojamed Pérez Caldevilla, a member of the national secretariat of the University Student Federation, told Radio Reloj that the young people will descend the steps of the University of Havana to the Monument of La Punta to pay tribute to the murdered students.

The young students were falsely accused of desecrating the tomb of Spaniard Gonzalo Castañon, an act which was proven false.

Their execution was intended to curb libertarian sentiment among Cubans, although in practice, the result was just the opposite. Both the crime and the summary trials that preceded it, actually propelled the ideals of freedom on the Island, a victim of Spanish colonial rule.

Every year the day is remembered as a sad anniversary. The assassination provoked worldwide repulsion and heightened the independence sentiments among Cubans.