Res No 073-10-13107RESOLUTION NO. 73-10-13107
A resolution of the Mayor and City Commission of the City of South Miami,
Florida condemning the repressive actions of the Cuban government and
expressing the support and solidarity of the residents of the City of South
Miami, Florida to Las Damas de Blanco "The Ladies in White," and all of
their family members unjustly imprisoned during the Black Spring of 2003;
and providing for an effective date.
WHEREAS, in the Spring of 2003, the Government of the Republic of Cuba imprisoned
75 dissidents, that included 29 journalists, as well as librarians, human rights activists, and
democracy activists, on the basis that they were acting as agents of the United States by
accepting aid from the United States (The event is known as The Black Spring); and
WHEREAS, the European Union declared that the arrests constituted a breach of the
most elementary human rights, especially as regards freedom of expression and political
association; and
WHEREAS, The wives, mothers, and sisters of the imprisoned activists formed a
movement called Las Damas de Blanco "The Ladies in White" to peacefully protest the unjust
imprisonment of dissidents, some of whom were sentenced to terms of up to 28 years in prison.
The movement received the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought from the European
Parliament in 2005, and
WHEREAS, in March 2010, the Cuban Government violently arrested all 55 members
of The Ladies in White during a peaceful sit -in to denounce the seven -year anniversary of the
Black Spring and the continued imprisonment of the dissidents; and
WHEREAS, the actions of March 2010 constitute a shameful and unspeakable violation
of the basis rights of all men, and abhorrent to the basic principals of liberty and justice on which
the United States was founded, and
WHEREAS, as Americans, we enjoy "...freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right
of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
As prescribed by The Constitution of the United States Amendment I; and
WHEREAS, the Cuban people have been ruled by the oppressive and totalitarian regime
of the Castro brothers for over fifty -one years; and
WHEREAS, numerous local and worldwide civic, religious, and political organizations
have expressed moral outrage against the incarceration of the so called, "conscience prisoners"
without any type of due process; and
Page 1 of 2
Res. No. 73 -10 -13107
WHEREAS, the death of one of those prisoners, Orlando Zapata Tamayo, a 42- year -old
plumber and bricklayer, died after a hunger strike that lasted 83 days and has sparked several
street protests and peaceful marches by Las Damas de Blanco "The Ladies in White "; and
WHEREAS, there have been recent peaceful marches in solidarity with the Ladies in
White in Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and Madrid; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission deems it to be in the public interest to denounce such
acts and to support The Ladies in White.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA, THAT:
Section 1. The City of South Miami finds the recent events in Cuba, including
the tragic death of Orlando Zapata Tamayo, the repression visited upon Las Damas de Blanco
during their peaceful and silent walk for the liberation of 55 political prisoners, and the
intensified harassment of those who dare to give voice to the desires of their fellow Cubans,
deeply disturbing.
Section 2. These events underscore that instead of embracing an opportunity to
enter a new era, Cuban authorities continue to respond to the aspirations of the Cuban people
with a clenched fist.
Section 3. Today, the residents of South Miami, through their City
Commission, join our voice with brave individuals across Cuba and a growing chorus around the
world in calling for an end to the repression, for the immediate, unconditional release of all
political prisoners in Cuba, and for respect for the basic rights of the Cuban people.
Section 4: This resolution shall become effective upon adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 6th day of April 12010.
ATTEST:
OACLERO-'
READ ANP APPROVED AS TO FORM
AND SUCIENCY:
CITY ATTORNEY
WAMy Documents\resolutions\Resolution Ladies in White rev(2).doc
APPROVED:
z
MAYOR
COMMISSION VOTE: 5 -0
Mayor Stoddard:
Yea
Vice Mayor Newman:
Yea
Commissioner Palmer:
Yea
Commissioner Beasley:
Yea
Commissioner Harris:
Yea
Page 2 of 2