Civil Liberties Under Siege in Miami - an open letter by a Miami resident

[carols]

Civil Liberties in Miami Under Siege

an open letter from Al Crespo

Dear Colleagues, Friends and fellow Americans,

Since 1997 I have been to more protests, held at more American cities than any other American. Not only have I been there, but also I wrote the book to prove it. Nowhere, I repeat, nowhere, has there been such extreme and inflammatory rhetoric and actions initiated by government, civic leaders and by the police in advance of a major protest in any American city that I visited.

The level of fear and alarm within this community is astounding. Government offices and schools miles from downtown are being closed with references to demonstrations and riots being cited for these closures. Radio stations are broadcasting calls for people to salute and support the police because "bad people" are coming to Miami. Government leaders are saying one thing to the Latin community, and another thing to the Anglo community. Public pronouncements of not harassing protesters have been circumvented by actual actions by police.

Read More

[G_j]

1. Daily Updates

from Starhawk (Miami Journals) here:
www.starhawk.org

BTW, a few million of that 87 billion were slated for the Miami police/FTAA security.
-------------

[carols]

2. The big question is

Will Tommy Ridge trot out his Color Wheel of Terror again? How much would you like to bet that at least one of the arrested protestors "has ties to Al Queda"? (The world according to the corporate media).

[Mika]

3. Batista Cubans and "exile" terrorists have taken over Miami

They have been, and are, empowered by both major US political parties.






FTAA IMC

[Bombtrack]

4. are you calling the exiles terrorists?

maybe you should elaborate because that sounds pretty bigoted to me, particularly because I have a lot of friends who's parents and grandparents are exiled Cubans

[Mika]

5. Yep.

Obviously not all. Most Cuban-Americans don't consider themselves to be "exiles".

But there is considerable overt support in from the 'old guard' in Miami for the hard line "exile" organizations/militias in Miami like the CANF, Alpha 66, Brigade 2506, Commandos F4, etc.

Unless you have lived in Miami you have no idea just how violent the anti Castro miamicuban "exile" organization are. Not just terra perpetrated abroad.. but here in the USA.

This is just a SHORT list of what I could track down in a couple of minutes.

There are HUNDREDS more. NOTHING is done. Almost NOBODY cares.


1. 30325M    Nibaldo Capote--3/20 Grenade- - - - - Albina Wolfe - - -5900 NW 37 Street
2. 41039M    Albina Wolfe - - 4/14 Grenade- - - - - Nibaldo Capote- -1315 SW 19 Street
3. 42114M   Student - - - - -   4/17-Pipe- - - - - - - University of Miami - 5602 Merrick
          Revolutionaries- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dean's Office
4. 55040M   Cubans - - - - - - 5/20-Dynamite - - - Lindsey Hopkins - - - 17 Street & NW
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Blue T-Shirt  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 22 PL
5. 63033M      –    - - - - - - - -6/7   Dynamite Cap- Henry Ritter - - - - -- 840 NW 144 ST
6. 88039M    Machinists Union-8/11 Dynamite - - - - Adam Dalisin - - -  5891 West 10 Ave
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  Hialeah
7. 76805M    Julio Perez Perez- 9/1- Clock, C4 - - - - Boulevard Drive-In  - West Palm Beach
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --Batteries, Cap
8. 116433M   Cubans  - - - - - - 10/20-Dynamite, - - - Publications - - - - - -500 NW 22 Ave
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Note, Pipe - - - Distributors
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -& Fuse
9.116434M    Cubans - - - - - - - -10/20- Dynamite, - - - WGBA - - - - - - - - 1301 SW 1st St
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Note, Pipe & Fuse
10. 132884M   Salon, Llarena -11/30--Fingers, - - - - - General Electric -  1062 East 2nd St
                       & Considine - - - - - - - Timer &  & Dynamite- - - - - - - - -  Hialeah
11. 132688M   Salon, Llarena - 12/1-  Dynamite, - - - - Overseas Tire Co.-3355 NW 41 St
   & Considine- - - - - - - Cap & Fuse
12. 134257M    Salon, Llarena  12/1- -Dynamite, - - - - World Transport - 7040 NW 35 Ave
                         & Considine- - - - - - -Can & Cap


http://cuban-exile.com/doc_001-025/doc0022.html

2/16/75 My Cuba Grocery Miami, Florida  Terrorist Bomb-  high explosive

2/24/75 Channel 51 (TV station) 777 NE 79 St.  Terrorist Bomb-  high explosive

3/30/75 L. Magdaleno  3395 SW 28 St.  Terrorist  Dynamite

5/02/75 Dade Cnty Bridge SW 12 St. & 94 Ave. Non-terrorist (vandalism)

5/11/75 Bay of Pigs Monument   SW 8St. & 13 Ave. Terrorist   Dynamite

5/14/75 Carlos Gallostra Variety Hospital, SW 31 ST & 59 AV  Terrorist  Letter Bomb

5/23/75 Robert James Kenny 16480 NE 20 Ave. Non-terrorist   Pipe bomb

7/04/75 Coral Park Sr. High 8865 SW 16 St.  Non-terrorist    Home-made device

7/26/75 Torch of Friendship NE 4 St & Biscayne Blvd Terrorist Rafael Gonzalez  High explosive

8/26/75 Replica Magazine 2994 NW 7 St.  Terrorist High explosive

8/17/75 Phillips 66 Service Station 490 NW 36 St.  Unverified

9/05/75 Arturo Perez  711 NW 57 Ave.  Non-terrorist  Homicide

9/08/75 Mike Whalen  1950 W. 49 St., Hialeah  Non-terrorist

10/03-75 Randolph Kout  2903 NE 103 St. Non-terrorist

10/06/75 Dominican Republic Consulate 1038 Brickell Ave. Terrorist   Dynamite

10/17/75 American Lockers Miami Int'l Airport   Terrorist Rolando Otero Time bomb

10/20/75 Dominicana  Airlines 1440 Biscayne Blvd. Terrorist    Time bomb

10/31/75 Rolando Masferrer 6765 SW 27 St.  Terrorist     Time bomb

11/12/75 June Higgins Dance Studio  So. Miami Heights Non-terrorist

11/27/75 Bahama Airlines Miami Int'l   Terrorist   Castillo, Ruiz, Ortega  Plastic explosive.

11/27/75 Perez Stable  University of Miami  Terrorist Rafael Gonzalez  Black  powder

12/03/75 Social Security  Miami Office  Terrorist  Rolando Otero "El Condor"
12/03/75 F.B.I. Miami   All pipe bombs  with timing devices                "
12/03/75 U.S. Post Office Miami                 "                                      "       sketch of bomber
12/03/75 Social Security  Miami Office         "                                     "
12/03/75 Barnett Bank  Miami                      "                                     "
12/04/75 State Atty's Office  Miami              "                                     "
12/04/75 Miami Police Dept  Miami              "                                     "

12/09/75 Paul Array  6930 NW 180 St. Non-terrorist

12/12/75 Almacen En Espanol 1359 SW 1 St.  Terrorist    Time bomb

12/12/75 Almacen En Espanol 910 W. 44 St. Hialeah  Terrorist   Time bomb

12/16/75 Howard Singer  15300 SW 82 Ave. Non-terrorist

12/18/75 Ramon Donestevez Crandon Marina  Terrorist (victim suspected) Dynamite

12/24/75 Roger Smith  SW 73 St. & 57 Court  Non-terrorist

12/31/75 F.P. & L. Station SW 130 St. & 98 AV Terrorist Rolando Otero Time bomb

1976

01/01/76 Soffla   NW 178 St. & 82 AV  Non-terrorist   Acetylene gas

01/04/76 T.G. Barry's mailbox  13525 SW 69 Ave. Non-terrorist    dynamited

01/05/76 Robert Ward's mailbox  781 NW 187 Dr.  Non-terrorist   bombed

01/08/76 Sergeant   21230 NE 14 Ave. Non-terrorist   Mailbox bombed

01/26/76 Robert Schwartz 10561 SW 71 Ave. Non-terrorist    Mailbox bombed

01/31/76 Frank Suarez  301 NW 39 Ave.  Non-terrorist   Powder in plastic bottle

02/01/76 Mario Escandar  275 Deer Run  Non-terrorist Blasting caps  (narcotic related)

02/08/76 Donald Wagner  8201 SW 62 Ave. Non-terrorist   Molotov cocktail

03/75/76 Sebastian's Lounge 2490 SW 17 Ave. Non-terrorist
  (suspected of being a homosexual hangout)

03/12/76 Ena Furniture  3400 NW 17 Ave. Non-terrorist   Dynamite

03/31/76 Seacot   30 NW No. River Dr. Terrorist            Dynamite/time  bomb

04/03/76 Coral Gables Police car   Univ of  Miami   Terrorist  Dynamite & caps
 Student Union bldg  Univ of Miami  Terrorist Gustavo Castillo, Orestes Ruiz  Dynamite & caps

04/14/76 Bay of Pigs Monument   SW 8 St. & 13 AV  Terrorist  Rolando Otero M-26 grenade

04/30/76 Emilio Milian  1301 SW 1 St.  Terrorist  Dynamite

05/06/76 Adult Book Store 3458 SW 8 St.  Terrorist  Rafael Gonzalez, Jesus Blas Corbo, Gary Latham

05/11/76 Dade County  1305 SW 40 St.  Terrorist

05/25/76 So. Miami Jr. High 6855 SW 56 St.  Non-terrorist

06/15/76 Dade County (open field)  NW 154 St. & 119 AV Non-terrorist

1977

02/18/77 Evelyn Schwartz 10561 SW 71 Ave. Non-terrorist   (vandalism)
  previous bombing incident at same location on 1/24/76,    victim Robert Schwartz

04/11/7 Smith   11200 W. Golf Dr. Non-terrorist

08/14/77 Venezuelan Military Aircraft  Miami Int'l   Terrorist Luis Boitel    Commando Dynamite

08/15/77 Frederico Boyd  52 NW 9 St.  Non-terrorist

08/25/77 Coral Park Apts. 9856 SW 8 St.  Non-terrorist  (stairwell)

09/19/77 Dupont Plaza Hotel 300 SE Biscayne Blvd   Terrorist   Luis Boitel    Commando
09/19/77 Four Ambassadors 801 So. Bayshore Drive All pipe bombs    "
09/19/77 Fontainebleau Hotel 4441 Collins Ave.                                    "
09/19/77 Eden Roc Hotel  4525 Collins Ave.                                         "

11/14/77 Dade County  NW 84 St. & 5 Ave. Non-terrorist     (road)

12/23/77 Venezuelan Airlines Ticket Off  1600 Collins Ave. Terrorist  Luis Boitel
                                                                                                Commando Pipe bomb

1978

02/08/78 Harold Schiffman "Pinky" NE 203 St. &  32 AV Non-terrorist (labor union dispute)

02/23/78 Marco Polo Hotel 19201 Collins Ave. Terrorist (El Condor)

05/10/78 Kaplan Const.  SW 92 St. & 70 AV  Non-terrorist   (portable toilet)

07/18/78 Florida Power & Light, Turkey Point Plant Non-terrorist

08/28/78 Judy Klozewski  16035 SW 103 Pl. Non-terrorist
  (homicide, by victim's husband, who also killed victim's mother and beat victim's brother)

09/05/78 Officer J. Carter, FL Game & Fresh Water 1003 NW 9 St., Homestead
                                                                            Non-terrorist   Blasting cap

09/13/78 Dade County  Haulover Beach Marina, 10880 Collins Ave. Non-terrorist

1979

03/20/79 Coca Cola Co.  186 SW 1 St. (vending machine) Homestead Non-terrorist

03/24/79 Padron Cigars  1566 W. Flagler St Terrorist            Dynamite

04/05/79 John Hill   14920 SW 74 St. Non-terrorist   (vehicle)

07/26/79 Padron Cigars  1566 W. Flagler St. Terrorist        High explosive

09/08/79 Rev. Manual Espinosa (church)  Red Rd. & W. 18 ST Hialeah Terrorist  Dynamite

11/02/79 Avant Const Co 84 Crandon Blvd. Key Biscayne Non-terrorist (Halloween vandalism)

1980

01/19/80 State of Florida 1361 W. 33 St. Hialeah  Non-terrorist  Dynamite cap

2/21/80 So Gear & Machine 3685 NW 106 St. Non-terrorist (possible vandalism) pipe bomb

04/04/80 Dade County  7290 NW 7 Ave.  Non-terrorist  (open field)      Pipe bomb

09/04/80 Steven Forrestall 870 SW 129 Place Non-terrorist   (vehicle)       Pipe bomb

09/27/80     SW 152 St. & 235 AV  Non-terrorist   Powder bomb

10/10/80 Semasaro Market 11537 NW 27 Ave. ?   Pipe bomb -  PVC

11/19/80 Santiago Mena  7980 SW 34 St.  Non-terrorist (possible Santeria nexus)
                                                                                                Residue: chlorate and sugar

12/30/80 American Airways 1840 W. 49 St. Hialeah  Terrorist Omega 7 Dynamite/time bomb

1981

06/04/81 Unknown   10800 SW 106 Ave.  Non-terrorist   (narcotics related)

06/19/81 Sanford Burton  Pumperniks Deli Non-terrorist (organized crime related) (gambler)

06/30/81 Pipe bomb on engine block of a  construction crane  19600 SW 110 Ct. Non-terrorist

 07/25/81 Falero Trucking Co. 6767 NW 74 Ave. Non-terrorist (labor related)

07/27/81 National Const. Co 12060 NW So. River Drive Non-terrorist   (labor related)

09/11/81 Mexican Consulate 440 Brickell Ave.  Terrorist Omega 7  High explosives

09/11/81 Replica Magazine 2994 NW 7 St.  Terrorist Omega 7 Propane fire bomb

09/15/81 Eliecen Fernandez 505 SW 102 Ave. Unverified Pipe bomb

09/24/81 Luis Bato (mailbox)   211 SW 119 Ave. Non-terrorist   (criminal mischief)

1982

02/19/82 Trans Cuba  2742 SW 8 St.     Terrorist Omega 7    57 mm shell with explosive

02/19/82 Replica Magazine 2994 NW 7 St.     Terrorist Omega 7  57mm shell with explosive

02/21/82 Padron Cigars  1566 W. Flagler St. Terrorist Omega 7  Molotov cocktail

02/21/82 Hispania Inter-Am Pharmacy 2085 SW 1 St.  Terrorist Omega 7 Machine-gun fire

02/22/82 Manuel Lorenzo  2740 NW 16 Tr.  Non-terrorist
  (owns Majestic Travel Agency, 5574 W. Flagler St.)

03/03/82 Alvin Malnik (vehicle)  Crickett Club, 1800 NE 114 St  Non-terrorist

04/10/82 Dade County  SW 144 St. & 67 Ave. Non-terrorist

06/01/82 Lucille's Market (Khaled A. Khalaf, owner)  9300 NW 17 Ave. ?

06/27/82 Lenny's Cash & Jewelry (Carl Stewart, owner) 810 NW 79 St.   Non-terrorist

07/22/82 Cozzoli's Pizza 10734 SW 72 St. Non-terrorist

08/22/82 Anthony Angelos (vehicle) 21000 NE 28 Ave. Non-terrorist (organized crime related)

08/10/82 Yamis Callahan  19523 SW 118 Pl. Non-terrorist  (victim believed to be perpetrator)

09/04/82 Venezuelan  Consulate 100 Biscayne Blvd. Terrorist Omega 7   Pipe bomb

10/02/82 Bingo Hall (Peter Ruso, owner) 4686 NW 183 ST Non-terrorist (organ crime related)

1983

01/11/83 Replica Magazine 2994 NW 7 St.  Terrorist Omega 7  Plastic explosive

01/11/83 Paradise Int'l  940 SW 5 St.  Terrorist Omega 7 Plastic explosive

01/11/83 Padron Cigars  1566 W. Flagler St. Terrorist Omega 7 Plastic explosive

03/07/83 Bomb in stolen  9431 SW 4 St.  Non-terrorist   vehicle abandoned

05/30/83 Continental Bank (Bernard Benes)  1801 SW 1 St.  Terrorist Omega 7 Pipe Bomb
06/13/83 Militant Book Store 1237 NW 119 St. Non-terrorist

--

-- May 1, 1987, a pipe bombing at Cubanacan in Miami;

-- May 2, 1987, a pipe bombing at Almacen El Espanol in Hialeah, Florida;

-- May 25, 1987, a pipe bombing at Cuba Envios in Miami

-- July 30, 1987, a pipe bombing at Machi Community Services in Miami;

-- August 27, 1987, a pipe bombing at Va Cuba in Hialeah;

-- January 2, 1988, a pipe bombing at Miami-Cuban in Miami;

-- May 3, 1988, a pipe bombing at the Cuban Museum of Arts and Culture in Miami;

-- May 26, 1988, a bombing at the residence of the executive director for the Institute of Cuban Studies in
                                         Coral Gables,  Florida, claimed by the AIC;

-- September 5, 1988, a pipe bombing at Bela Cuba in Miami;

-- September 18, 1988, a bombing intended for a leader of the Reunion Flotilla, a group which advocates that all persons hould be able to enter or leave Cuba as they please, in      Miami;

-- February 24, 1989, an attempted pipe bombing at Almacen El Espanol in Miami;

-- March 26, 1989, a bombing at Marazul Charters in Miami; and

-- September 10, 1989, a bombing at Super Optical in Hialeah.


Unfortunately, many of these small groups (the anti Castro terra groups) have connections with, or are extensions of, US government agencies like the CIA, NED, SOA, etc. The hundreds of 'small acts of terra' in Miami are, essentially, US government sponsored terra against its own citizens.

If you live in Miami (and don't toe the anti Cuba line) you really know what terror feels like.

[ant]

6. oh c'mon

If you live in Miami (and don't toe the anti Cuba line) you really know what terror feels like.

I grew up in Miami. My family is Colombian and my parents are VERY liberal. While the exile community is certainly very nutty, and I won't dispute the incidents you posted, notice there are no reports of that kind of thing after 1989. I lived in Miami from 1985/86 to 1993 and NEVER felt "terrorized." My parents are still there and as far as I know they've never felt "terrorized," either.

In fact, my dad always has a grand old time getting into political debates with the old Cuban guys at the neighborhood coffee shop. He loves getting them all riled up.

[Judi Lynn]

7. I have an article mentioning a fire-bombing of a place

featuring a Cuban singer in 1999.

One of the most despicable acts was the car bombing of a Cuban "exile" Emilio Milián, who dared to speak out against the violence of the Cuban "exile" extremists in Miami. Here's the photo commemorating that evil deed:



This will lead you to a partial list of acts of violence which are bona fide, literal, legally acknowledged, barbaric gifts to the world from a criminal mob disposition:

(snip) Lawless violence and intimidation have been hallmarks of el exilio for more than 30 years. Given that fact, it's not only understandable many people would be deeply worried, it's prudent to be worried. Of course it goes without saying that the majority of Cuban Americans in Miami do not sanction violence, but its long tradition within the exile community cannot be ignored and cannot simply be wished away.

The following list of violent incidents I compiled from a variety of databases and news sources (a few come from personal experience). It is incomplete, especially in Miami's trademark category of bomb threats. Nor does it include dozens of acts of violence and murder committed by Cuban exiles in other U.S. cities and at least sixteen foreign countries. But completeness isn't the point. The point is to face the truth, no matter how difficult that may be. If Miami's Cuban exiles confront this shameful past -- and resolutely disavow it -- they will go a long way toward easing their neighbors' anxiety about a peaceful future. (snip/...)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(snip) 1993 Inflamed by Radio Mambí commentator Armando Perez-Roura, Cuban exiles physically assault demonstrators lawfully protesting against U.S. embargo. Two police officers injured, sixteen arrests made. Miami City Commissioner Miriam Alonso then seeks to silence anti-embargo demonstrators: "We have to look at the legalities of whether the City of Miami can prevent them from expressing themselves."

1994 Human Rights Watch/Americas Group issues report stating that Miami exiles do not tolerate dissident opinions, that Spanish-language radio promotes aggression, and that local government leaders refuse to denounce acts of intimidation.

1994 Two firebombs explode at Replica magazine's office.

1994 Bomb threat to law office of Magda Montiel Davis following her videotaped exchange with Fidel Castro.

1996 Music promoter receives threatening calls, cancels local appearance of Cuba's La Orquesta Aragon.

1996 Patrons attending concert by Cuban jazz pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba physically assaulted by 200 exile protesters. Transportation for exiles arranged by Dade County Commissioner Javier Souto.

1996 Firebomb explodes at Little Havana's Centro Vasco restaurant preceding concert by Cuban singer Rosita Fornes.

1996 Firebomb explodes at Marazul Charters, which arranges travel to Cuba.

1996 Arson committed at Tu Familia Shipping, which ships packages to Cuba.

1997 Bomb threats, death threats received by radio station WRTO-FM following its short-lived decision to include in its playlist songs by Cuban musicians.

1998 Bomb threat empties concert hall at MIDEM music conference during performance by 91-year-old Cuban musician Compay Segundo.

1998 Bomb threat received by Amnesia nightclub in Miami Beach preceding performance by Cuban musician Orlando "Maraca" Valle.

1998 Firebomb explodes at Amnesia nightclub preceding performance by Cuban singer Manolín.

1999 Violent protest at Miami Arena performance of Cuban band Los Van Van leaves one person injured, eleven arrested.

1999 Bomb threat received by Seville Hotel in Miami Beach preceding performance by Cuban singer Rosita Fornes. Hotel cancels concert.

January 26, 2000 Outside Miami Beach home of Sister Jeanne O'Laughlin, protester displays sign reading, "Stop the deaths at sea. Repeal the Cuban Adjustment Act," then is physically assaulted by nearby exile crowd before police come to rescue.

April 11, 2000 Outside home of Elian Gonzalez's Miami relatives, radio talk show host Scot Piasant of Portland, Oregon, displays T-shirt reading, "Send the boy home" and "A father's rights," then is physically assaulted by nearby exile crowd before police come to rescue. (snip/)

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/2000-04-20/mullin.html

The article was published in 2000, so there are three years not represented.

[Mika]

8. I grew up in Miami too

Its one thing to debate the old abuelos over a coffee, its another for one to own a business that has been firebombed because of one's political position or support for a candidate.

As the wingnut "exiles" gained political power the threats and intimidation are conducted more in the political/financial arena.. zoning, grants, loans, construction contracts, management contracts, etc., than using bombs. But the violence does continue in Miami, just a little less.


As the US terror activities by the Miamicuban "exile" groups were becoming more publicized (and unpopular) the intransigent extremists shifted more towards offshore acts of terror. All violations of the US Neutrality Act.

Such as,
http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/43b/142.html

http://www.ain.cubaweb.cu/english/escalaing/terroring.htm#March%2020

http://afrocubaweb.com/albertojones3.htm#Voices%20On%20Terrorism

http://www.oceanbooks.com.au/cuba/cubauswar.html

[ant]

16. I still say

that the comment:
If you live in Miami (and don't toe the anti Cuba line) you really know what terror feels like.

is hyperbole. Again, while I won't dispute the specific attacks you listed, and while I agree those attacks count as terrorism and intimidation, I think that sort of thing affects a small minority in Miami.

That is NOT NOT NOT to say it's OK, just that you shouldn't generalize the experiences of a few to an entire city.

[Mika]

19. Hyperbole? Not if you are politically active in Miami.

"..I agree those attacks count as terrorism and intimidation, I think that sort of thing affects a small minority in Miami."



Where have you been? Has your head been in the sand for the last couple of decades? The tactics of the extremist minority has impacted our entire nation's foreign policy, not to mention the 2000 selection. Miami is the poorest large city in the USA, thanks to the Batista style corruption that is entrenched here.

The MAJORITY of Cuban-Americans in Miami have been cowed by the hard line tactics. This MAJORITY of Cuban-Americans in Miami desire an end to the failed policies pushed upon them by the intransigent and violent "exile" organizations, but their voices are silenced by the intimidation of the empowered extremists.


To say that the hard line Miamicuban "exile" politics impacts only a small minority in the city just flies in the face of reality.





"just that you shouldn't generalize the experiences of a few to an entire city."

Maybe you should read my posts.

[ant]

21. this is not that difficult

Where have you been? Has your head been in the sand for the last couple of decades? The tactics of the extremist minority has impacted our entire nation's foreign policy, not to mention the 2000 selection.

Yes, but that's not what we're talking about. We're talking about Cuban exiles in Miami and THEIR terrorist activities, so let's not wander off into Iraq and the 2000 election. While there are certainly connections between the exiles and the GOP, they are not relevant here.

There is only ONE point here: I and many others lived and still live in Miami and NEVER FELT TERRORIZED. THEREFORE, your comment that,

If you live in Miami (and don't toe the anti Cuba line) you really know what terror feels like.

is an exaggeration. And by the way, I AM politically active, as are my parents, but I'll grant you that at the local level they deal more with city budgets than Castro.


The MAJORITY of Cuban-Americans in Miami have been cowed by the hard line tactics. This MAJORITY of Cuban-Americans in Miami desire an end to the failed policies pushed upon them by the intransigent and violent "exile" organizations, but their voices are silenced by the intimidation of the empowered extremists.

You can capitalize "majority" all you want, it doesn't change the fact that ALL cubans, no matter what their politics, are a minority in Miami. (http://miamifl.areaconnect.com/statistics.htm) I repeat: do not generalize the experiences of a minority - EVEN IF THAT MINORITY IS THE MAJORITY OF SOME LARGER MINORITY GROUP - to an entire city.

To say that the hard line Miamicuban "exile" politics impacts only a small minority in the city just flies in the face of reality.

Well, since the Cubans ARE a minority I'm not sure what, exactly, you're taking issue with here.

[Bombtrack]

9. I live in Coral Gables

I don't know what the anti-cuba line is, but whatever it is, labeling the hundreds of thousands of Cubans in South Florida as terrorists is bigoted in my book

[Mika]

12. I didn't label hundreds of thousands of Cubans in S.Florida as terrorists

As I've posted earlier, its the intransigent wingnut "exiles", who are in the minority within the Cuban-American community in Miami. These wingnuts and their minions run the City of Miami these days. They didn't run Miami 25-30 years ago. Using classic Batista era techniques, they have threatened and intimidated the Cuban-American community who don't agree with their extremist anti Castro politics. All with the help of the pandering politicians and presidential candidates who garner their campaign dollar support.

Two examples from two prior presidential election runs,


CANF founder and GHW Bush fundraiser Jorge Mas Canosa & GHW Bush
-


CANF founder and Clinton fundraiser Jorge Mas Canosa & Bill Clinton

[Judi Lynn]

14. I HAVE to post this remark by Jorge Mas Canosa

before leaving for the afternoon.

I heard about this several years ago, and finally found it in a search. It's arrogant, ignorant, and obnoxious:

(snip) The reporter had asked if the Americans would ''take over'' Cuba after Fidel Castro's fall. Mas Canosa reportedly replied, ''That's bull----. They haven't even been able to take over Miami. If we kicked them out of here, how could they possibly take over our own country?'' (snip/...)

http://www.fiu.edu/~fcf/caricature112497.html

[Judi Lynn]

10. Mika, have you ever heard of this idjit?

Just stumbled across it, recognized it has two points of interest.

(snip) The Miami Herald
February 22, 2001
Cuba: Alpha 66 made payments to dissident

BY ELAINE DE VALLE

The Cuban government has accused a Miami exile paramilitary group
of making payments to a dissident who was arrested for allegedly
threatening Mexican diplomats and news organizations on the island.

Cuba's Interior Ministry announced Wednesday the arrest of Elizardo
San Pedro Marín, who allegedly worked for Alpha 66.

A rare statement from Cuba's Interior Ministry said San Pedro had
confessed to sending messages that hinted at actions against
Mexico's new envoy to Cuba, Ricardo Pascoe, viewed as
sympathetic to President Fidel Castro's communist government.
Pascoe announced in January that he would close his doors to
Cuban dissidents.

San Pedro allegedly confessed to working for Alpha 66 under the
code name ``Adrian'' and taking $1,200 from group for his role
``terrorizing'' those favoring ties with the Cuban government, the
Communist Party daily Granma said.

Nazario denied working with San Pedro, but admitted sending a
telegram. The Interior Ministry said San Pedro sent it to the Mexican
embassy.

Nazario said he sent it to Pascoe and Mexican Foreign Minister
Jorge Castañeda because Mexico seemed to be softening its stance
toward Castro.

(snip/...)

http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~delacova/belligerence/adrian.htm

[Mika]

15. Most of our past presidents have sat on stage with these cretins..

.. just as W* did in Miami recently when he came to babble about a new git tough on Castro policy, as all past POTUS's have done since 1959. They do so for campaign contributions.

[Judi Lynn]

11. Another article on Miami "exile" murderous violence

First of all, it should be explained from time to time that the "exiles" in Miami are actually free to come and go to Cuba, and that many of them do regularly.

Since when has the classic definition of "exile" included vacation trips to one's homeland, hanging out in hotels, bars, shows, renting cars and driving around the island at leisure?

Now the article:

(snip)............On 26 April 2001 Cuban border guards caught three men attempting to land a boat packed with weapons on the northern coast of Santa Clara province. All three belonged to Alpha 66, the oldest anti-Castro paramilitary organisation in the US. Cuban intelligence videotaped one of the men phoning his boss, Santiago Alvarez, in Miami. During the conversation Alvarez advises him to be careful and to continue with the plan to bomb one of Cuba's foremost tourist attractions, the Tropicana Cabaret. Far from unusual, the incident was just the latest of a long and relentless list of terrorist plots.

The Cuban government claim that between 1990 and 2001 they uncovered 16 plots to kill Fidel Castro, eight conspiracies against the lives of other Cuban politicians and 140 acts of terrorism. And yet groups like Alpha 66 continue to operate openly in the US, seemingly immune from prosecution.

An prominent banner hangs above the door of their headquarters in Miami proclaiming: "Irregular Warfare in Cuba -- the only solution."

Of all the anti-Castro organisations operating in Florida, the most politically powerful is the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF). Founded in 1981, CANF has offices in Miami, Washington DC and New Jersey. It also has chapters in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Puerto Rico, New Orleans and Texas. Since its beginning, the CANF hierarchy has been an influential cabal of ex-US ambassadors, rich businessmen, bankers, the Bacardi Corporation and even a British lord. The organisation receives millions donated by both private donors and the US government, used to fund its so-called "non-violent" lobbying activity against Cuba. Using the support of a number of sympathetic members of congress and governors, including George W Bush¹s brother, Jeb -- Governor of Florida -- CANF also has a huge influence in US politics. The organisation has contributed over a $1 million to various politicians including George Bush snr, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and George W Bush. It has been involved in every major piece of US legislation involving trade sanctions against Cuba.

The ability of CANF to play its high level political lobbying role depends heavily on its continuing denial of any involvement in terrorist activities. However, CANF has, on more than one occasion, been caught with traces of explosives on its hands. (snip/...)

http://www.redpepper.org.uk/inv-archive/April2002.html

I should add, that a Canadian poster here has met and done business with Cuban "exiles" who actually are in business in Cuba. I've heard this from a poster also at CNN's old, now defunct US-Cuba Relations board. Interesting.

[Mika]

13. Remember this article about Alpha 66 training 6th graders?

This training still goes on in the Everglades.

Alpha Males
http://www.miaminewtimes.com/issues/1998-08-27/feature.html/1/index.html

Hustling down a dirt road surrounded by miles of farmland, Leslie Fernandez struggles to keep a rifle balanced on her shoulder. Dressed in bell-bottom jeans and a white T-shirt, she catches up with her fellow commandos -- five men dressed in military fatigues and also toting weapons.

"What kind of gun is this?" she asks Jesus Hoyos, who is leading the team.
"That's an M-1," Hoyos explains curtly. He's cradling a semiautomatic Bushmaster AR-15.

The group stops and huddles. "This is the rally point," Hoyos tells them. He reviews the plan: Leslie will remain behind to guard the backpacks under cover of darkness while the men sneak into a Cuban military base and shoot at two MiGs parked in a large grassy field. "Let's go," Hoyos says quietly.

Leslie watches the men creep down the edge of the road -- two in front, three behind -- then disappear through an open metal gate surrounding a small military camp. Moments later machine guns pop. They pop again, faster. "Retreat! Retreat!" Hoyos shouts. The commandos pull back, turning and firing as they go. They scurry down the road and regroup, breathless, at the rally point, where Leslie has been patiently waiting. "Okay, enemy troops have the beach blocked," Hoyos pants. "Contingency plan A -- the helicopter -- was shot down. So we have to walk five miles to a point where they're going to pick us up at 0600."

But there are no enemy soldiers, no MiGs in the field. Only stacks of old tires. The bullets are blanks. It is not night, but Sunday morning. And Leslie is no companera; she's an eleven-year-old who has never been to Cuba and scarcely speaks Spanish. Her father Mario, one of the fighters, left the island during the Mariel boatlift in 1980. Though Leslie thinks she would be willing to join a raid on Cuba when she gets older, she's still a bit uncertain about logistics -- like how she would get there. "I have no idea," she shrugs. "Maybe by boat." But she does have a firm grasp of the objective. "Fidel Castro shouldn't be there, treating those people like he does. He's just really bad to them," she declares. She learned to shoot semiautomatic weapons earlier this year.

Then the thoughtful, articulate sixth-grader at Miami Lakes Middle School confesses the real reason she attends the Sunday training sessions: "I really don't have anything to do at home, so I decided to come here to learn about Cuba and how they train and stuff."

Yep, training to invade Cuba and shoot Cubans is just how 6th graders should "learn about Cuba". Right?

[Code_Name_D]

18. Just to clarify

Is this a list of chaulties? If so, I could most denfrantly use it in another debate taking place. If you for give my calosness.

[Judi Lynn]

17. I just remembered reading Miami has been called "terror capital"

of the U.S.

Looked for a link, found the following:

(snip) Militant hard-line exile activities caused the FBI to designate Miami the “terror capital” of the United States. One of the most infamous attacks, in 1976, was that on Emilio Milian, who, on a Miami radio station, denounced terror tactics and intimidation by extremist exiles. Milian survived, but lost both his legs in the car bomb attack. Countless other terrorist attacks have taken place in Miami over the years, including the bombings of: the Cuban Museum of Art (in 1988 and again 1990); the home of Maria Cristina Herrera, the organizer of a conference on U.S.-Cuba relations (1988); Marazul Charters, which arranges travel to Cuba (1989 and again in 1996); Little Havana’s Centro Vasco, prior to the performance of Cuban singer Rosita Fornes (1996); the Amnesia nightclub before a performance by Cuban singer Manolín (1999).<1>

But the terror was not limited to Miami; in Washington, DC, two Cuban exiles, Jose Dionisio Suarez Esquivel and Virgilio Paz Romero, helped mastermind the 1976 assassination of Orlando Letelier, former Chilean diplomat, and his colleague, Ronni Moffit. The terrorists were each sentenced to 12 years in jail and served half of that time. Though U.S. law requires that non-U.S. citizens must be returned to their country of origin after incarceration, the two convicted terrorists remained in INS custody because there is no deportation agreement with Cuba. The Miami Herald reported upon his release in 2001 that Cuban American National Foundation (CANF) lawyers had “fought diligently” to get Paz Romero released from INS custody. A CANF spokesman insisted they did so because trying a harder case could clear the way for easier cases to be won. A convoluted explanation, at best, which in no way changes the fact that the Foundation went all out to set free a convicted terrorist.

Over the years, many Miami-based terrorist attacks have also been launched against Cuba. Cuban exiles Orlando Bosch and Luis Posada Carriles, who are regarded as heroes by the extreme right-wing exiles (the City Commission of Miami declared a “Dr. Orlando Bosch Day” in 1983), were charged and imprisoned in Venezuela for the bombing of a Cubana airliner off Barbados in 1976, an act of terrorism that resulted in the loss of 73 lives, most of them innocent young Cubans – including the entire Cuban fencing team.
(snip/...)

http://www.giraldilla.com/Terror_Docs/Cuba-CIP-10-11-01.htm

One of the authors, Wayne S. Smith was formerly the head of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, who's well acquainted with "exile" history.

[Judi Lynn]

20. Thanks for posting this site.

Didn't know it existed. Gonna absorb it later this evening. Very interesting.