On this date in history

16 de febrero, 1959
Forty-nine years ago today, the bearded killer proclaimed himself the Premier of Cuba. He was not elected by the people but by the guns and tanks he controlled.
An abominable darkness began to shroud the once brilliant island of Cuba on January 1st, 1959, and by this day forty-nine years ago, that darkness smothered almost every remaining light of hope that flickered in the land of Marti. It has never been able to extinguish, however, the light that still shines bright within the heart and soul of so many Cubans.
That light, which has endured half a century of executions, beatings, imprisonment, starvation, enslavement, and many other tribulations, will be that light that one day will lead the nation of Cuba out of darkness.