The murder of Conrado Benítez, on January 5th 1961, shocked the people of Cuba. Unscrupulous elements kill him for the sole "crime" of bringing education to our farmers.
In 1959, almost a third of the Cuban population could neither read nor write. From the first months the triumphant Revolution set out to eradicate this scourge. The purpose of eliminating the scourge of the island in one year was a great lesson for the people of Latin America, and also a great shame for those who tried, by all means, to discredit the Revolution and its social project to benefit the people.
With the dawn of January 1st 1961, Cuba began the Literacy Campaign in so-called Year of Education, cultural crusade that had its antecedent in the commitment of the Commander in Chief Fidel Castro and featured the massive participation of people.
To achieve that goal, thousands of teachers and students went to the plains and mountains of the country, to bring the light of knowledge to those in need. One of them was the young Conrado Benitez Garcia, with only 19 had been added to the first group of young people for several months attended a training period and training camp in Minas del Frio, located in the mountains of Sierra Maestra, which prepared him for work in any area of the country.
He was appointed in September 1960 to teach at a modest school near Pitajones, in Trinidad.
On January 5th, 1961, just a few days of starting the literacy campaign in the country, a group of counter operating in the mountainous area takes advantage of the night to capture the young teacher, who as only weapons carried a book of Arithmetic, another of Physiology and Language. The heinous crime occurred during the morning.
About the teacher Conrado Benitez said the historic leader of the Revolution Fidel Castro: "That teacher, who died cruelly murdered, will not be like a light goes out, it will be like a flame of patriotism going on". Later he said: "That teacher will remain be a teacher. The people will never forget him! ".
And so it was. His example served as flag and its name was taken to describe the literacy brigades continued his work.
