Tampa

The Diaz-Balarts in Tampa — Photos from a Babalú reader

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Earlier this month, we let you know about a “Meeting with the Cuban community in Tampa, Florida / Reaffirmation of the struggle for Cuba’s freedom” that would take place today. According to the initial press release, it would be a meeting of:

Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Congressman David Rivera (R-FL), former Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart,  members of patriotic Cuban-American organizations in Tampa and former Cuban political prisoners.

In that post, we solicited photos from anyone who might be able to attend. Babalú readers came through!

Here are some photos from reader Omar Díaz:

Meeting with the Cuban community in Tampa, Florida (1)
From left: Oscar Rodriguez, fmr. president of La Casa Cuba de Tampa; Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart; Alfredo Moreno current president of La Casa Cuba de Tampa; Lincoln Diaz-Balart; Ana Carbonell

Meeting with the Cuban community in Tampa, Florida

Omar summarized the event and the Diaz-Balarts remarks this way:

The bros. each spoke of the present day of Cuba under the dictatorship with Lincoln talking about the twitter note he read recently of the activist whose young daughter was beaten up by state security agents. They both quoted Churchill’s never give in when speaking of negotiating with Castro’s shmafia (shit + Mafia). I made that one up.
Their message was one of hope for Cuba’s future and the need for the exiles to maintain a hard line.

The brothers each spoke of present day Cuba under the dictatorship, with Lincoln talking about a tweet he read recently of the activist whose young daughter was beaten up by state security agents.

Their message was one of hope for Cuba’s future and the need for the exiles to maintain a hard line.

As a bonus, Omar sent us this photo of Cuban bread at a nearby bakery.

Gratuitous photos of Cuban bread at a Tampa bakery (Photo by Omar Díaz)
Gratuitous photo of Cuban bread at a Tampa bakery (Photo by Omar Díaz)

Many thanks to Omar for these contributions.

Daughter of Cuban VP has defected. How’s that for “fugo de cerebros”?

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One of the differences between voting with a ballot and voting with your feet: When you vote with your feet, some votes just count more than others.

For the cause of liberty, this is one big “get.”

Daughter of Cuba Vice President Defects to US, Report Says
Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2012/08/28/daughter-cuba-vice-president-defects-to-us-report-says/#ixzz24ti0DgE5

Daughter of Cuba Vice President Defects to US, Report Says

Glenda Murillo Diaz, 24, crossed the Mexican border this month into the city of Laredo, Texas, according to The Miami Herald. Murillo Diaz is now living in Tampa and intends to make the United States her home, the paper reports citing unnamed sources.

Murillo Diaz originally traveled to Mexico to attend a psychology conference, according to the Herald. She never received a U.S. visa to visit relatives or study, the report says.

Whether or not she entered with a visa, Murillo Diaz is permitted to stay under the wet-foot, dry-foot policy, which allows Cuban nationals to reside legally in the United States and apply for citizenship if they manage to set foot here.

The defection, if true, would be an embarrassment to the Cuban government. Vice President Marino Murillo Jorge holds the key position of implementing Head of State Raúl Castro’s economic reforms aimed at liberalizing Cuba’s half-century-old Communist economy.

Read the rest of the story here.

The daughter of Cuban VP MArino Murillo has defected to the U.S.
The daughter of Cuban VP MArino Murillo has defected to the U.S.

FYI: meeting in Tampa on struggle for Cuba’s freedom on August 30 (with the Diaz-Balarts and David Rivera)

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If you’re in Tampa on August 30, this might be of interest to you. If you make it out, please do let us know how it goes and send us any photos of videos you can get.

From Diaz-Balart, PLLC:

PRESS RELEASE

WHAT: Meeting with the Cuban community in Tampa, Florida / Reaffirmation of the struggle for Cuba’s freedom

WHO: Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Congressman David Rivera (R-FL), former Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart,  members of patriotic Cuban-American organizations in Tampa and former Cuban political prisoners.

WHEN: Thursday, August 30th, 2012 at 3:00 p.m.

WHERE: El Club Civico Cubano, 10905 Memorial Highway, Tampa, FL 33615

COMUNICADO DE PRENSA

QUE: Reunión con la comunidad cubana de Tampa y acto de reafirmación patriótica por la libertad de Cuba.

QUIEN: El Congresista Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), el Congresista David Rivera (R-FL), el ex-Congresista Lincoln Diaz-Balart, miembros de organizaciones patrióticas cubanas en Tampa y ex-presos políticos cubanos

CUANDO: El jueves, 30 de agosto de 2012 a las 3:00 pm

DONDE: El Club Cívico Cubano, 10905 Memorial Highway, Tampa, FL 33615

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