Jorge Luis Acanda, a Cuban university professor residing in Ecuador, centered his presentation—delivered to an auditorium packed with students from the Faculty of Law—on Fidel Castro’s self-defense plea, known as “History Will Absolve Me.”

Acanda explained that this document, which emerged following the assault on the Moncada Barracks on July 26, 1953, should not be analyzed solely from a legal perspective; rather, it should be viewed as a political text, crafted to denounce injustices and argue for the necessity of a revolution on the island.

For his part, Paul Almeida, president of the Ecuadorian Coordinator for Friendship and Solidarity with Cuba, urged the audience to critically examine information circulating on social media and to verify the content presented regarding the reality on the island.

The leader of the solidarity organization defended Cuba’s mechanisms for popular participation—championed by Fidel Castro from the very beginning of the revolutionary process—and encouraged reflection on the role of citizens in shaping their own reality.

Silvio Toscano, the UCE’s administrative vice-rector, described the event as an opportunity to foster critical thinking within the public university and to introduce young people to the life and work of the Cuban leader.

Julieta Logrono, the UCE’s vice-rector for academic and postgraduate affairs, stated in a video that it is important to promote Fidel Castro’s ideas, particularly his vision of public education as a tool for social transformation, sovereignty, and collective dignity.

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