“Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment, full effort is full victory.” - Mohandas Gandhi
On August 26, 1993, thirty years ago next week, two Cuban-American students from Florida International University organized a five-hour candlelight vigil in front of the Mexican Consulate that mobilized hundreds to protest Mexico's deportation to Cuba of eight Cuban refugees who survived when their boat sank off the Mexican coast the previous week. When we look back thirty years and see Cuban refugees being mistreated in the Bahamas ten years ago, and being deported today by the United States back to the dictatorship that still rules in Cuba, it is natural to ask, "What have we accomplished?" Are we not in the same situation as we were three decades ago?
The answer is found in Gandhi's epigram at the top of this blog entry and in the words of the great English poet T.S. Eliott: "If we take the
widest and wisest view of a Cause, there is no such thing as a Lost Cause,
because there is no such thing as a Gained Cause. We fight for lost
causes because we know that our defeat and dismay may be the preface to
our successors' victory, though that victory itself will be temporary; we
fight rather to keep something alive than in the expectation that it will
triumph."
The Free Cuba Foundation has consistently and independently advocated for nonviolent resistance against injustice and oppression. We have continuously advocated for victims of the dictatorship seeking justice, while also advocating for freedom and national reconciliation. We have remained
true to our mission statement.
What the future may hold is uncertain because we are free to decide and nothing is written in stone.
However, the past 30 years have demonstrated that young Cubans,
Cuban-Americans,Cuban-Spaniards, Peruvians, and other people of good
will have not acquired the "amnesia of Coca Cola" as some on the island describe the forgetfulness of some who leave for freedom and forget their friends and family back home.
These student leaders moved on after graduating and were replaced by new ones.
Augusto Monge, FCF Chairman 1993 -1994
John Suarez, FCF Chairman 1995
Jose Raul Carro, FCF Chairman 1996
Xavier Utset, FCF Chairman 1997-1998
Susana Mendiola, FCF Chairwoman 1998-1999
Helen Castro, FCF Chairwoman 1999-2000
Neri Ann Martinez, FCF Chairwoman 2001-2004
Michel Betancourt, FCF Chairman 2004 -2005
Pedro Ross, FCF Chairman 2006-2008
Susana Navajas, FCF Chairwoman 2008- 2009
Juan Carlos Sanchez Jr., FCF Co-Chair 2009-2010
Julio Menache, FCF Co-Chair 2009 - 2010
Kristan Patton, FCF Chairman 2011 - 2013
Their testimony is evidence that the struggle continues because new
generations have sought to carry the torch for the cause of freedom in
Cuba over the past sixty four years and continue to do so today.
We will continue to denounce the crimes being committed by the dictatorship in Cuba while at the same time letting the world know of brave activists who have sacrificed everything in the cause of Cuba's freedom.We will make use of this milestone to reflect on what has been done well. What needs to be improved and what needs to be done in the future to achieve the goal of a free Cuba where human rights and dignity are both recognized and respected.
Over the past 10 years, the Free Cuba Foundation has kept its pledge. Rey Anthony, a representative of the Free Cuba Foundation in 2015 led protests against President Obama's thaw with the Castro military dictatorship.
FCF members published a statement in Huffington Post in 2015 that declared "Not in our name" in opposition to the Obama Administration's rapprochement with General Raul Castro.
FCF leaders in 2016 took part in an international conference were Cuban opposition leaders both in and out of the island called for a commission against impunity, and two years later presented a report for the universal periodic review of Cuba in 2018.
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| FCF's Augusto Monge attended international gathering in Puerto Rico in 2015 |
Our advisor throughout twenty eight of these years was Martin L. Tracey. We are grateful for his steadfast and courageous support over this time, and mourn his passing in 2021.
This is an open call to Florida International University students interested in carrying on this tradition, and to past members to join us on August 26th at 6:00pm via Zoom to celebrate this anniversary. To take part please e-mail frcbfndtn@gmail.com.
