Patria O Muerte, Venceremos

The origin of the motto was derived from a speech by revolutionary leader Fidel Castro to commemorate the workers and soldiers who died in the La Coubre explosion on March 5, 1960 at the harbour in Havana. The motto was originally written as Patria o Muerte ("Homeland or death"), with the word Venceremos ("we will prevail") added in July 1960 during the Congress of the National Federation of Barber and Hairdressing Workers. In a 1964 speech at the United Nations, Che Guevara used the iconic phrase to communicate Cuba's new stance against the harassment of the U.S. government. The phrase has recently been adapted by some Cuban musicians and protestors to now say, "Patria y vida" ("Homeland and life").