Memorial Day for Medical Students in Cuba Date in the current year: November 27, 2024

On November 24 students of the age from 16 to 21 visited the Espada Cemetery to pick up flowers. They rode the wagon they used to take corpses to the anatomy classes. The Spanish guard on duty decided to make a false denunciation, stating that the students made an attempt to scratch the glass on the tomb of Spanish journalist Gonzalo Castañón. The students of the whole class were arrested and processed.

On November 27 eight students were sentenced to death. They were executed in pairs by firing squad. The bodies of the students were buried outside the city in a common grave, their relatives were not allowed to give them Christian burial and obtain death certificates. The other students of the class were also severely punished: 11 were sentenced to 6 years in prison, 20 more to 4 years and 4 more to 6 month of imprisonment.

The anniversary of execution of the students is the day of national mourning. Traditionally students of secondary schools and universities held a demonstration, starting at the steps of the University of Havana.