Cuban Protesters Shut Down Miami's Palmetto Expressway

Miami FL

14 July, 2021

9:12 AM

Description

Miami Times Staff Report, the Miami Times Jul 13, 2021 Demonstrators voicing their support for the people of Cuba and recent protests in that country took to the streets of South Florida in solidarity, shutting down a section of the Palmetto Expressway on Tuesday and causing gridlock all over town. Dozens of demonstrators began their rally at Coral Way and SW 82nd Avenue and then marched their way onto 826 in the pouring rain, blocking traffic for several hours. All northbound lanes were blocked between Coral Way and 8th Street; all southbound lanes were blocked between Coral Way and Bird Road. In stark contrast to Black Lives Matter demonstrations, no arrests were made. This is the first such incident since Florida's new anti-riot law was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The acts of civil disobedience in South Florida come after a historic uprising in Cuba took place over the weekend, when thousands poured into the streets there calling for change and their freedom. The demonstration in several cities and towns on the island nation were some of the biggest displays of antigovernment sentiment seen in years in tightly controlled Cuba, which is facing a surge of coronavirus cases as it struggles with its worst economic crisis in decades as a consequence of U.S. sanctions imposed by former President Donald Trump's administration. Meanwhile, a group of Black Cubans in Miami filled a boat full of food and water Monday night and were headed to Cuba, against warnings from the U.S. Coast Guard, to deliver supplies to people on the island. The Cuban government has stated that such attempts to deliver aid will not be tolerated. The Miami Times is the largest Black-owned newspaper in the south serving Miami's Black community since 1923. The award-winning weekly is frequently recognized as the best Black newspaper in the country by the National Newspaper Publishers Association.