Victor Ricardo Cairo, head of a local CDR, with condecoratioons he received, 1999.

Victor Ricardo Cairo, head of a local CDR, with condecoratioons he received, 1999.

Night watch, 1999.

Night watch, 1999.

Cuban artist Kcho stirs a special 'caldosa', in an artwork created by himself, 2013.

Cuban artist Kcho stirs a special 'caldosa', in an artwork created by himself, 2013.

Kids play baseball against the backdrop of a CDr propaganda.

Kids play baseball against the backdrop of a CDr propaganda.

Pictures of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara are being hung up. Members of a CDR paint political slogans and propaganda for the May Day march, 2007.

Pictures of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara are being hung up. Members of a CDR paint political slogans and propaganda for the May Day march, 2007.

Assembly to elect candidates for elections, 2017.

Assembly to elect candidates for elections, 2017.

CDR shooting practice for kids, on occasion of a CDR anniversary, 2009.

CDR shooting practice for kids, on occasion of a CDR anniversary, 2009.

CDR assembly in Old Havana, 1999.

CDR assembly in Old Havana, 1999.

CDR night watch, 1999.

CDR night watch, 1999.

Voluntary neighborhood cleaning.

Voluntary neighborhood cleaning.

Yadisney Vidal Sardinias (16), was 14 when she was elected as the youngest ever president of a local CDR, 1989.

Yadisney Vidal Sardinias (16), was 14 when she was elected as the youngest ever president of a local CDR, 1989.

Kids collecting renewable resources, 1999.

Kids collecting renewable resources, 1999.

CDR assembly (Rendición de cuenta) in Vedado, Havana, 1999.

CDR assembly (Rendición de cuenta) in Vedado, Havana, 1999.

CDR assembly in Vedado, Havana, 1999.

CDR assembly in Vedado, Havana, 1999.

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Daisy Payas Morillo, 61, president of a revolutionary neighbourhood watch organisation CDR, holds an album with Revolution stickers that bears the cover image of Cuban Revolution leader Fidel Castro, 2008.

Daisy Payas Morillo, 61, president of a revolutionary neighbourhood watch organisation CDR, gently touches an album with Revolution stickers that bears the cover image of ailing Cuban Revolution leader Fidel Castro, 2008.

Daisy Payas Morillo, 61, president of a revolutionary neighbourhood watch organisation CDR, gently touches an album with Revolution stickers that bears the cover image of ailing Cuban Revolution leader Fidel Castro, 2008.

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Daisy Payas Morillo, 61, president of a revolutionary neighbourhood watch organisation CDR, flips through the pages of an album with Revolution stickers that bears the cover image of Cuban Revolution leader Fidel Castro, 2008.

Cubans dance salsa under a picture of Cuban President Fidel Castro during the traditional party to commemorate the anniversary of the CDR, 2007.

Cubans dance salsa under a picture of Cuban President Fidel Castro during the traditional party to commemorate the anniversary of the CDR, 2007.

Ofelia Lopez holds a Fidel Castro photo. Ofelia was present when Castro gave the speech in 1960, announcing the foundation of the CDR. Havana, 1999.

Ofelia Lopez holds a Fidel Castro photo. Ofelia was present when Castro gave the speech in 1960, announcing the foundation of the CDR. Havana, 1999.

Del Toro, President of the CDR # 1 Ernesto Che Guevara, in Santiago de Cuba, sings the national anthem. 2003.

Del Toro, President of the CDR # 1 Ernesto Che Guevara, in Santiago de Cuba, sings the national anthem. 2003.

A cuban girl plays in a local CDR, with the photos of Fidel Castro (left and right), Revolution Commander Camilo Cienfuegos (2nd left) and Che Guevara (2nd right) at the wall, 2007.

A cuban girl plays in a local CDR, with the photos of Fidel Castro (left and right), Revolution Commander Camilo Cienfuegos (2nd left) and Che Guevara (2nd right) at the wall, 2007.

Victor Ricardo Cairo Saez, CDR Coordinator of the Zone 92, explains a board with plans set by the CDR. Havana, 1999.

Victor Ricardo Cairo Saez, CDR Coordinator of the Zone 92, explains a board with plans set by the CDR. Havana, 1999.

Cubans dance to a conga as celebrating a CDr anniversary, 2007.

Cubans dance to a conga as celebrating a CDr anniversary, 2007.

A Cuban woman carries a Che Guevara flag as people are preparing for the CDr anniversary, Havana's Malecon, 2005.

A Cuban woman carries a Che Guevara flag as people are preparing for the CDr anniversary, Havana's Malecon, 2005.

Con Fidel Revolucion, political propaganda, a phrase (With Fidel Revolution) being used by the mass organisation CDR, 2008.

Con Fidel Revolucion, political propaganda, a phrase (With Fidel Revolution) being used by the mass organisation CDR, 2008.

Victor Ricardo Cairo, head of a local CDR, with condecoratioons he received, 1999.

Night watch, 1999.

Cuban artist Kcho stirs a special 'caldosa', in an artwork created by himself, 2013.

Kids play baseball against the backdrop of a CDr propaganda.

Pictures of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara are being hung up. Members of a CDR paint political slogans and propaganda for the May Day march, 2007.

Assembly to elect candidates for elections, 2017.

CDR shooting practice for kids, on occasion of a CDR anniversary, 2009.

CDR assembly in Old Havana, 1999.

CDR night watch, 1999.

Voluntary neighborhood cleaning.

Yadisney Vidal Sardinias (16), was 14 when she was elected as the youngest ever president of a local CDR, 1989.

Kids collecting renewable resources, 1999.

CDR assembly (Rendición de cuenta) in Vedado, Havana, 1999.

CDR assembly in Vedado, Havana, 1999.

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Daisy Payas Morillo, 61, president of a revolutionary neighbourhood watch organisation CDR, gently touches an album with Revolution stickers that bears the cover image of ailing Cuban Revolution leader Fidel Castro, 2008.

10827sc

Cubans dance salsa under a picture of Cuban President Fidel Castro during the traditional party to commemorate the anniversary of the CDR, 2007.

Ofelia Lopez holds a Fidel Castro photo. Ofelia was present when Castro gave the speech in 1960, announcing the foundation of the CDR. Havana, 1999.

Del Toro, President of the CDR # 1 Ernesto Che Guevara, in Santiago de Cuba, sings the national anthem. 2003.

A cuban girl plays in a local CDR, with the photos of Fidel Castro (left and right), Revolution Commander Camilo Cienfuegos (2nd left) and Che Guevara (2nd right) at the wall, 2007.

Victor Ricardo Cairo Saez, CDR Coordinator of the Zone 92, explains a board with plans set by the CDR. Havana, 1999.

Cubans dance to a conga as celebrating a CDr anniversary, 2007.

A Cuban woman carries a Che Guevara flag as people are preparing for the CDr anniversary, Havana's Malecon, 2005.

Con Fidel Revolucion, political propaganda, a phrase (With Fidel Revolution) being used by the mass organisation CDR, 2008.

CDR - The Neighborhood organization in Cuba

September 27, 2020

On September 28, 1960, as Fidel Castro was holding a speech, bombs were heard exploding close by and Castro (legend says it was spontaneous) then reacted to the explosions announcing the foundation of a nationwide network of neighborhood-watch committees to fight counter revolutionary activities.

And so it happened. No apartment, no house, no family in Cuba that does not belong to a CDR (Comité de Defensa de la Revolución). The role of these CDR has changed a bit over the years. It started as a neighborhood watch organization, but other activities also became standard procedure, like initiatives for blood donations, voluntary neighborhood cleaning, help in organizing the big mass marches and frequent assemblies to attend suggestions, ideas and complaints of the people, to name a few.

So, in Cuba every year September 28 is being celebrated as the CDR anniversary, usually with a ‘caldosa’ (a heavy broth of many ingredients that takes hours to cook but which always turns into quite a show for everybody), on the eve of the 28th.

The new national head of the CDR was just announced some weeks ago, it is Gerardo Hernandez, well known as being the leader of the so-called Cuban-Five (Los Cinco Heroes, in Cuba) a group that had been infiltrated in the Miami exile Cuban scene to find out about possible attacks against Cuba. So, in a way, it is quite fitting that he is new CDR head.

Obviously, there will be no ‘caldosa’, no neighborhood party in the streets this year. Anyway, here are some pictures from over the years, a little mishmash of photos; at the end, a ‘caldosa’ of images…