“The Cuban people hold a special place in the hearts of the people of Africa. The Cuban internationalists have made a contribution to African independence, freedom, and justice, unparalleled for its principled and selfless character…[T]he most important lesson that you have for us is that no matter what the odds, no matter under what difficulties…there can be no surrender! It is a case of freedom or death!..We come here with a sense of a great debt that is owed to the people of Cuba. What other country can point to a record of greater selflessness than Cuba has displayed in its relations with Africa?…It was in prison when I first heard of the massive assistance that the Cuban internationalist forces provided to the people of Angola, on such a scale that one hesitated to believe, when the Angolans came under combined attack of South African, CIA-financed FNLA, mercenary, UNITA, and Zairean troops in 1975. We in Africa are used to being victims of countries wanting to carve up our territory or subvert our sovereignty. It is unparalleled in African history to have another people rise to the defense of one of us.”

“Your presence and the reinforcement of your forces in the battle of Cuito Cuanavale was of truly historic significance.”

“The crushing defeat of the racist army at Cuito Cuanavale was a victory for the whole of Africa!”

“The overwhelming defeat of the racist army at Cuito Cuanavale provided the possibility for Angola to enjoy peace and consolidate its own sovereignty!” – Nelson Mandela

“The defeat of the racist army allowed the struggling people of Namibia to finally win their independence!”

“The decisive defeat of the apartheid aggressors broke the myth of the invincibility of the white oppressors!”

“The defeat of the apartheid army was an inspiration to the struggling people inside
South Africa!”

“Without the defeat of Cuito Cuanavale our organizations would not have been unbanned!”

“The defeat of the racist army at Cuito Cuanavale has made it possible for me to be here today!”

“Cuito Cuanavale was a milestone in the history of the struggle for southern African liberation!”

“Cuito Cuanavale has been a turning point in the struggle to free the continent and our country from the scourge of apartheid!…”

– Nelson Mandela

Join us on February 8, 2014 to Celebrate the life of our brother,
President Nelson Mandela.

Our event will present the real Nelson Mandela, a revolutionary fighter against oppression and exploitation, not the fairy-tale figure manufactured among US politicians and the big-business media, aiming to dilute the truth of his
history and legacy.

We will also tell the truth as Mandela always did, about the key role of revolutionary Cuba in the unravelling and defeat of apartheid and advances in African liberation. This has been entirely omitted in the vast “mainstream” coverage of Mandela’s passing in the United States.

THE FEBRUARY 8, 2014 NELSON MANDELA MEMORIAL COMMITTEE:
1199/SEIU Latin America Democracy Committee, Alternativa Revolucionaria, A.N.S.W.E.R, BAYAN, Brecht Forum, Casa de las Americas, Circulos Bolivarianos – NY, Cuba Solidarity New York, El Frente Amplio Dominicano, Frente Socialista de Puerto Rico – NY, Fuerza de la Revolucion, Harlem Tenants Council, Haitian Information Center, IFCO/Pastors for Peace, International Action Center, International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban Five, Jericho Movement, July 26 Coalition, La Peña, Mesa de la Izquierda Dominicana, National Committee to Free the Five, National Network on Cuba, Partido Nacionalista de Puerto Rico – Junta de Nueva York, Party for Socialism and Liberation, People’s Organization for Progress, Philippine Forum, Popular Education Project to Free the Cuban Five, ProLibertad Freedom Campaign, Socialist Action, Socialist Front of Puerto Rico, Sisa Pakari Labor Center, Socialist Workers Party, Venceremos Brigade, Workers World Party, Rev. Luis Barrios, Frente Amelio – RD, Alternativa Revolucionaria, Proyecto Pro Construcion del PSD.