Protester disrupts start of Cuba's annual May Day parade

Protester disrupts start of Cuba's annual May Day parade
President Raul Castro in attendance as man breaks through security
By Associated Press , Hatzel Vela - Reporter
Posted: 11:40 AM, May 01, 2017
Updated: 12:37 PM, May 01, 2017


HAVANA - A protester has briefly disrupted the start of Cuba's largest
annual political event, sprinting in front of May Day marchers with a
U.S. flag before being tackled and dragged away.

President Raul Castro watched along with other military and civilian
leaders and foreign dignitaries as the man, who was carrying an American
flag, broke through security and ran ahead of the tens of thousands in
the pro-government march.

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Plainclothes officers struggled to control the man but eventually lifted
him off the ground and hauled him away in front of foreign and Cuban
journalists covering the parade.

Monday's protest was a surprising breach of security at a
government-organized event where agents line the route.

Castro has said he will step down as president in February, making this
his last May Day parade as head of state.

Eighty-six countries were represented in the march, which "unity is our
strength" was the theme.

This is about workers, the fight that has to continue for the rights of
workers in Cuba and around the world," a woman told Local 10 News
reporter Hatzel Vela.

She is a doctor on assignment in Jamaica, but since she's been back, she
has not missed a May Day celebration.

An Italian man, who lives in Cuba, said his communist and socialist
principles convinced him to come and participate with thousands of
others. He told Vela that he's been celebrating May Day since he was
young in honor of his father, who fought fascism in Italy.

Source: Protester disrupts start of Cuba's annual May Day parade -
http://www.local10.com/news/cuba/protester-disrupts-start-of-cubas-annual-may-day-parade