 In December 1964 , Che Guevara had emerged as a " revolutionary statesman of world stature " and thus traveled to New York City as head of the Cuban delegation to speak at the United Nations . On December 11 , 1964 , during Guevara 's hour @-@ long , impassioned address at the UN , he criticized the United Nations ' inability to confront the " brutal policy of apartheid " in South Africa , asking " Can the United Nations do nothing to stop this ? " Guevara then denounced the United States policy towards their black population , stating : 
