Yahoo! July 13, 2000
Cuban-American Organizations Host March for Justice on Sixth Anniversary of "13 de marzo" Sinking
Company Press Release. Thursday July 13, 7:01 am Eastern Time. SOURCE: Free Cuba Foundation and July 13th Ad Hoc Committee
MIAMI, July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Cuban-American organizations will host the March for Justice today, which is the sixth anniversary of the "13 de marzo'' tugboat sinking.
What: A peaceful march to commemorate the Cubans who died in the "13 de marzo" tugboat sunk by Cuban government security on July 13, 1994. The government attack on the boat killed 37 of the 68 refugees aboard, including 11 children. The walk is planned as a show of solidarity
with the numerous nonviolent protests already underway in Cuba during this anniversary of the sinking.
When: Thursday, July 13, 6:30 p.m.
Who: The Free Cuba Foundation and the July 13th Ad Hoc Committee (a group made up of several Cuban-American organizations) are sponsoring the event. The public is invited to join in on this call for justice and show support for the opposition movement's efforts in Cuba.
Where: Participants will meet outside the Coconut Grove Convention Center at 2700 Bayshore Drive and then walk to La Ermita de La Caridad (Our Lady of Charity) at 3609 South Miami Avenue. La Ermita plans a special Mass for the "13 de marzo" at 8:00 p.m.
More: Also Thursday, July 13, at noon, Florida International University students and members of the university community will gather at the University Park campus by the large fountain facing the Graham Center West Wall. They will hold a six-minute moment of silence to the victims of the
massacre that took place six years ago.
CONTACT: For more information on the March for Justice, call John Suarez of the Free Cuba Foundation, 305-274-6269. For information on the "13 de marzo" or on the opposition movement in Cuba, call Tomas Rodriguez of Agenda Cuba, 305-510-1898, or Rafael Artigas of the Cuban
Democratic Revolutionary Directorate, 305-279-4416.
Injunction Barring Cuba Rule Issued
MIAMI, 11 (AP) - A federal judge issued a permanent injunction Tuesday that bars Miami-Dade County from enforcing an ordinance requiring businesses to swear they haven't had dealings with Cuba before dealing with the county.
The order issued by U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno Tuesday follows a Supreme Court decision last month on a similar Massachusetts case that effectively killed the local rule.
In the Supreme Court's unanimous decision to threw out a Massachusetts law that restricts trade with Myanmar, once known as Burma, justices said states cannot infringe on the federal foreign policy-making role.
Under the Miami-Dade County ordinance, all groups seeking cultural grants from the county or seeking to use county facilities for performances had to swear they had not engaged directly or indirectly in business, financial dealings, or other transactions with a Cuban national or the government
of Cuba.
It was passed by the county commission in July 1996, after civilian planes were shot down over international waters by Cuban military jets. The existing U.S. trade embargo provides exceptions for cultural and scientific exchanges.
BlackElectorate.com Reports: Black Congressman Considering Assistance From Fidel Castro
SOURCE: BlackElectorate.com. Company Press Release. Wednesday July 12, 10:33 am Eastern Time
WASHINGTON, July 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-Ms) is considering accepting an offer of assistance from Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Castro has offered to provide medical education and training to medical students who come from Rep. Thompson's congressional district in Mississippi.
Rep. Thompson says that he is considering accepting the offer from the Cuban leader in light of the severe medical problems suffered by Rep. Thompson's constituents and because many students in his district have been denied entry into medical schools.
The offer of assistance was made in a meeting between Castro and Rep. Thompson during a recent trip to Cuba made by Rep. Thompson and members of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Rep. Thompson says that he is aware of those who will criticize him for considering the offer but believes that his consideration is justified. Thompson says, ``I look at it like this: every county I represent is short of doctors and nurses. I have a lot of kids who would like to go to medical
school who have been unsuccessful in getting in. Here is an opportunity to fill that void. If President Castro is the only somebody to step up to the plate, then the question is whether I'm going to play politics or whether I'm going to represent a demonstrated need for the people of my district.''
Rep. Thompson has been discussing the proposal with Cuban officials, including the Cuba's Minister of Health.
Rep. Thompson discusses Castro's offer in an interview with BlackElectorate.com.
The interview can be read at http://blackelectorate.com/
BlackElectorate.com is a division of Black Electorate Communications -- a news analysis outlet, established in 1999, to inform elected officials, the financial community, media outlets and the general public of issues that impact and interest the Black Electorate -- worldwide.
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