Brigadas universitarias Echeverria membership

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Brigadas universitarias Echeverria membership


University Militias
These were actually founded on 26 October 1959, when Fidel Castro raised the need to create the National Revolutionary Militias. The university people, who had attended the event in front of the Presidential Palace, from there set out toward the Hill and the coffee shop of the house of higher studies, between refreshments, with notebook sheets turned into enlistment forms, agreed that the University Militia be named the José Antonio Echeverría Brigade.

After weeks of training, on 27 November 1959, uniformed in wine-red shirts, gray pants and black berets, armed with the M1 Garand rifles that Fidel had sent them, the boys at the University Student Federation (USF) returned to the Escalanita en masse. A whistle was heard and a squad of girls began to perform evolutions. In its journey through San Lázaro street up to the La Punta monument, the student militiamen were applauded by the people. This parade went on to become the catalyst of large scale popular enthusiasm for the constitution of the National Revolutionary Militias.

The graduation of the University Militia in January 1960 was done with an ascent up Pico Turquino, where they were joined by Fidel Castro, Celia Sánchez and other revolutionary leaders.

The University Militias then became the 154th Battalion of the National Revolutionary Militias, consisting of students, professors and workers. Presently this unit is known as the 154th Regiment of the Territorial Militia Troops.