José Martí Anti-Imperialist Platform facts for kids
The José Martí Anti-Imperialist Platform (in Spanish, Tribuna Antiimperialista José Martí) is a large public space in Havana, Cuba. It's located in an area called the Plaza de la Dignidad (which means Dignity Plaza), right across the street from the United States Embassy. This important venue first opened in April 2000.
About the Platform
This large plaza is found in the Vedado neighborhood of Havana. It sits between the famous seafront road called the Malecón, Calzada Avenue, and N and M streets.
The very first big event held here was a protest against the United States. This happened when a six-year-old Cuban boy named Elián González was involved in a custody dispute. Cuba wanted Elián to be returned to his father in Cuba, and this protest was part of that effort. Eventually, Elián did return to Cuba in June of that year. After this, the José Martí Anti-Imperialist Platform became a place for many government-led gatherings and rallies over the years.
The design of the plaza is quite interesting. An aerial view shows a giant star shape built into the ground. The main stage of the plaza is right in the center of this star. One point of the red star clearly points directly towards the U.S. Embassy, which is only a few hundred feet away.
What the Plaza Looks Like
As of 2006, the plaza has a large stage and metal arches that stretch over the area where crowds gather. It also features a monument with 138 flags. The stage and arches were already in place for a big concert in May 2005. The American rock band Audioslave performed there, and they said it was the first outdoor rock and roll concert by an American band on Cuban soil. The plaza was able to hold an amazing 60,000 people for that free concert!
In March 2010, the Puerto Rican pro-independence reggaeton band Calle 13 also performed at this venue.
The "Wall of Flags"
A special monument of flags was added to the plaza on February 6, 2006. This "Wall of Flags" was put up to respond to and block an electronic message board on the fifth floor of the U.S. Interests building (which is now the U.S. Embassy). The flags appeared less than a month after the billboard started showing messages on January 16, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
There are 138 flags in total, and each one is black with a white star in the middle. They are raised on tall poles, about 20 meters (65 feet) high. The idea was to make them tall enough to block the view of the electronic message board. These flags likely do block the view for people in the José Martí Plaza, as was seen during a speech by Fidel Castro there on January 24, 2006.
The number of flags and their design were chosen to remember Cuban people who were victims of terrorism. This includes the 73 people who died in the 1976 bombing of a Cuban passenger airliner.
See also
- José Martí
- United States Interests Section in Havana
