The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.60/No.40           November 11, 1996 
 
 
Cuban Rightists Outmobilized In Florida  

BY ERNIE MAILHOT

MIAMI - "Helms-Burton is criminal" and "Cuba Sí, Bloqueo No!" (Yes to Cuba! No to the blockade!) resounded from the 130 protesters demonstrating not far from the posh Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables October 22. Inside, President William Jefferson Clinton was speaking at a campaign dinner which raised $2 million.

Only a few yards from the protest 80 counterprotesters organized by Cuban Unity, Alpha 66, and other ultrarightists chanted "Helms-Burton Sí" and yelled insults at those across the way. A line of police separated the two rallies.

The Miami Coalition to End the U.S. Embargo of Cuba, the Antonio Maceo Brigade, and the Alliance of Workers of the Cuban Community were among the main builders of the rally against the so-called Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act, also known as the Helms-Burton law. The measure, signed by Clinton March 12, tightened Washington's embargo and travel ban on Cuba.

A newly formed group called the Latin American Youth Front also called for people to come out to oppose the Helms-Burton law, while at the same time supporting Clinton. For more than a week before the Clinton dinner, Francisco Aruca, who hosts the radio talk show "Ayer en Miami" (Yesterday in Miami) on Radio Progreso, repeatedly called for support to the action called by the Front. He explained that the only signs that would be allowed would be those supporting Clinton and opposing the Helms-Burton Law.

When the rally against the economic blockade of Cuba began, most of the protesters scooped up the 70 hand-lettered signs that had been brought by the Antonio Maceo Brigade and participated in a spirited and united picket line. None of these signs called for support to Clinton. After a half hour or so about 20 professionally made signs saying "Clinton Sí, Helms- Burton No" arrived. These were also carried by some of the protesters.

A few in the crowd tried to start a chant "Clinton Sí, Bloqueo No!" but this was overwhelmed by those chanting "Cuba Sí Bloqueo No!" When the rightists saw the Clinton signs some of them yelled back, "He's on our side."

The rightists were visibly upset that they had been outmobilized. They yelled that those protesting the Helms-Burton law were prostitutes and paid agents of Cuba. The next day calls to some of the Spanish-language radio shows bewailed the small number of right-wing demonstrators.

This successful demonstration against the Democratic and Republican parties' attacks on Cuba came at a time of heightened conflict among those in the Miami Cuban-American community who actively oppose the Cuban revolution. After Hurricane Lili pounded western Cuba October 18, the Catholic Church in Miami launched an effort to raise humanitarian aid for Cuba, which was backed by radio station WQBA. This station, known as La Cubanisima, has a long history of attacking the Cuban revolution and opposing all aid to Cuba.

Commentators on WQBA went out of their way to show that they hadn't changed their rightist stance toward Cuba. They organized to write "exilio" (exile) on the aid packages, supposedly to stop the Cuban government from stealing it, but also in an attempt to take advantage of the storm damage to legitimize the right wing in Miami.

The debate over hurricane aid has deepened splits among the rightists. Spanish-language commentators on radio stations WCMQ and Radio Mambí denounced the sending of aid, claiming that none of it would reach the Cuban people and accusing aid supporters of betrayal. "We know that this will be confiscated by the government and sold to tourists," was an often heard comment on these shows.

Some ultrarightists, such as Jorge Mas Canosa from the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF) said they support the aid effort. The CANF, in particular, tried to hedge this, however, by saying that they were looking for another avenue to deliver the supplies since Caritas, the Catholic agency responsible for distributing the aid in Cuba, was not reliable.

Reverend Francisco Santana, a Catholic priest well known for his opposition to Cuba who is helping to coordinate the church's effort in Miami, told the press that he had received at least 14 harassing calls including several bomb threats.

Thousands of Cuban-Americans in Miami have responded to the call for aid to Cuba, in spite of the fierce opposition by WCMQ, Radio Mambí, and other right-wing groups. After only a few days Catholic Church officials reported they had collected more than 220,000 pounds of foodstuffs. An editorial in the October 22 Miami Herald acknowledged that "thousands of exiles are overfilling warehouses." The aid will go directly to Caritas in Cuba, which will oversee its distribution.

The Alliance of Workers of the Cuban Community, the Miami Coalition to End the Embargo of Cuba, the Antonio Maceo Brigade, and the Socialist Workers Party are among the other groups that are gathering aid for Cuba.

Ernie Mailhot is a member of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees in Miami.

 
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home