By Rob Evans. www.livedaily.com. Sept. 16
ACLU to sue city and venue over apparent political motivations behind
cancellation.
A group that represents veterans of the Bay of Pigs invasion has booked
Miami's James L. Knight Center to show an anti-Castro movie on Oct. 9, the day
that Cuban dance band Los Van Van had been booked to play.
The city-owned building's management firm removed Los Van Van from the
schedule last week under pressure from city officials and anti-Castro activists.
Miami Mayor Joe Carollo, who opposed the Los Van Van concert, told the Miami
Herald that the veterans group signed the contract Monday. Upon hearing the
news, the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union vowed to go
forward with a planned lawsuit against the city and venue manager Globe Facility
Services.
GFS cancelled the Los Van Van concert last week after receiving a memo form
a city attorney stating that the band had not proven compliance with a U.S.
trade embargo against Cuba. Under the embargo, Cuban bands are allowed to
perform in the U.S. because of cultural exchange exemptions, but may not profit.
The concert's promoter told the newspaper that city officials gave her only
one day to prove the tour was in compliance, a task she said wasn't possible in
such a short time frame. The show was to be the last of a 26-city North American
tour for Los Van Van.
A State Department spokesman told the newspaper that Los Van Van is in the
country legally while on a promotional tour for its new album, ''Llego Van Van .
. . Van Van Is Here.'' The president Havana Caliente, the band's U.S. label,
said she hopes to arrange for Los Van Van to play elsewhere in the Miami area.
Published: Wed Sep 15, 1999 at 01:10:51 Pacific Time
Writer: Rob Evans for Livedaily.com
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