During the neocolonial republic, one of the most difficult stage was undoubtedly the 30s. The dictatorship of Gerardo Machado attacked the labor and student movement; generally, against all the people that suffered under his regime. The crisis and the unrest of the population spread to the whole country. On September 30th, 1930, as a result of the student brawl against Machado, the young Rafael Trejo González died in Havana. This son of San Antonio de los Baños became the first martyr of the university and the banner of struggle for all dignified cuban people.
In the town a revolutionary nucleus, headed by Julio Pérez, emerged. That large group participated in an uprising led by Celestino Baizán, which culminated in the slaughter of ‘’El Corojal’’, on August 10th, 1931. In this action, the Ariguanabenses: Eladio Contreras, Antonio Pérez Torres, Cornelio Fleitas, Porfirio Fiallo, Raúl Pino and Rafael Pérez died. Their bodies were exhumed, honored and taken to the cemetery of Guira de Melena, where years later an obelisk was erected in memory of them.
Another outstanding ariguanabense was Rafael Pérez Valdés, a young student who was linked to the struggles of the ‘’Círculo de Trabajadores’’. He was assassinated on September 9th, 1932, meanwhile, Julio Pérez was killed on December, 22th, during a conspiratorial meeting. His funeral, held in San Antonio de los Baños, was a sign of popular mourning. In August, 1933 the town joined the general strike and the municipal authorities that responded to the interests of the dictatorship of Gerardo Machado, were deposed.