Fidel Castro is released from jail

While he was being held at the prison for political activists on Isla de Pinos, he continued to plot Batista's overthrow, planning upon release to reorganize and train in Mexico.

After having served less than two years, he was released in May 1955 due to a general amnesty from Batista who was under political pressure, and went as planned to Mexico.

Fidel Castro and his brother Raúl together with 18 followers are released from the Isle of Pines prison under the new General Amnesty law. Well treated while in prison, he only served 21 months and 15 days of his 15 year sentence.

At his trial, he delivered an impassioned two-hour closing argument that was widely but clandestinely circulated under the title History will absolve me! It was a kangaroo trial, and Castro was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but a public groundswell called out for amnesty, and Castro was released in 1955.