Miami, FL – In the wake of the ICE murders of Keith Porter, Jr., Renee Nicole Good,and Alex Pretti, protesters in Miami gathered at Torch of Friendship calling for an end to ICE terror. Dozens gathered in solidarity with the people of Minneapolis and demand that ICE get out of their own community, with slogans such as “In the Miami heat ICE will melt.”

Local activist Arianna Betancourt spoke about her personal experience with her father being detained by ICE during a routine check-in. Since October 2025, her father has been imprisoned in the Everglades concentration camp, “Alligator Alcatraz.” During her speech at the rally, Betancourt called on the Miami community to rise up in the face of ICE terror, saying, “Let's stand together and make a change, because there are more of us than there are of them!”

Early in the day, students and members of the student-led coalition, ICEBreakers FIU, at Florida International University staged a sit-in calling for an end to the university's partnership with ICE through the 287(g) agreement.

Carlton Daley, co-chair of Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) FIU and an organizer of the demonstration stated, “In protest of FIU's continual escalation of ICE presence on campus and in solidarity with Minneapolis, YDSAFIU and ICEBreakers, a coalition of political organizations designed to combat ICE, mobilized roughly 150 attendees to a peaceful demonstration of resistance. If FIU continues their relentless assaults against its working class students and faculty, we will continue to galvanize the masses against their oppression.”

In June of 2025, the city of Miami voted to sign on to the 287(g) agreement that allows local police to act as immigration agents, despite massive public outcry. As of late 2025, there have been more than 10,000 kidnappings by ICE in collaboration with local and state law enforcement, in what Governor Ron DeSantis calls “Operation Tidal Wave.”

Still, the resounding call from Miami, a city where more than 60% of the residents are immigrants, is “ICE out now!

#MiamiFL #FL #ImmigrantRights #ICE #KillerICE

Miami, FL – The Miccosukee Tribe and Friends of the Everglades won their lawsuit to shut down the detention camp known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” as ruled by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams on Thursday, August 21. The lawsuit was filed on June 27, and Judge Williams ordered a temporary stop to the construction on the site two weeks ago. Now, the state has 60 days to move the detainees and dismantle what’s been constructed so far.

The lawsuit was brought to the courts on the grounds of environmental damage caused by the facility to the fragile Everglades ecosystem. Twenty acres of land have been paved over with asphalt for the facility’s operations.

This decision comes just days after another U.S. District Judge, Rodolfo Ruiz, dismissed some of the complaints raised by people detained at so-called Alligator Alcatraz. Detainees alleged that they were unable to speak privately with their legal counsel or file legal documents to argue against their detention. Judge Ruiz dismissed the latter and said that another district court will proceed with the former.

Before the facility was operational, Miccosukee Tribal Elder Betty Osceola called for a protest on June 22. Hundreds of protesters were out in the Everglades by the future site of the concentration camp demanding that the construction stop and operations do not begin. Although the facility eventually opened, the Friends of the Everglades initiated the lawsuit that shut down the camp, with the Miccosukee Tribe joining the suit as a plaintiff.

The state of Florida filed an appeal and is attempting to find a way to resume its construction.

“We won’t back down,” said Claudia Rodriguez of the South Florida Anti-War Committee. “Hundreds of us came out in one of the worst heat waves of the year, standing under rain and shine, withstanding mosquitoes and humidity because we won’t be silent in the face of the Trump administration targeting our immigrant communities, dispossessing our indigenous neighbors, and destroying our environment.”

#MiamiFL #FL #ImmigrantRights #Environment #Trump #IndigneousPeoples #ChicanoLatino #AligatorAlcatraz

Pompano Beach, FL – On Saturday, March 2, over 200 cars traced a route across South Florida maintaining minimum legal speeds on interstates and along busy beachfront roads to protest U.S. support for Israel.

The caravan was launched in remembrance of the over 30,000 Palestinians who have been killed in Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza. In honor of the martyrs, dozens of cars carried posters with the pictures and personal information of individual Palestinians murdered by Israel.

The caravan was led and tailed by video trucks displaying the truth of Israel’s crimes and had several cars with speakers on megaphones making educational and political speeches were distributed throughout. Participants distributed flyers with information about the history of Palestine and its occupation by the Zionists.

The hundreds of vehicles brought traffic to a crawl and drew cheering crowds at two intersections. Shouts of “Free Palestine” and “Stop the genocide” were heard from both the demonstrators’ speakers and from beachgoers. Many vehicles were adorned with decorations that were prepared during the two hours it took for the drivers to gather. These included flags, posters and painted messages that read “30,000 killed by Israel,” “End all aid to Israel” and “Victory to Palestine.”

Efforts by police and Zionists to harass the demonstration failed to prevent the vehicles from completing the entire planned route despite multiple citations and a Zionist motorcyclist who broke a side-view mirror.

At the conclusion, organizers said that this rally was double the size of the first rally a month before and made calls for the new participants to join in the planning of a third car rally for Palestine in South Florida.

Many organizations contributed to the event such as South-Florida Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Palestine Car Rally, Al-Awda, Jewish Voices for Peace of South Florida, Students for Justice in Palestine at Florida International University, Democratic Socialists of America, and Jose Marti Youth.

#PompanoBeachFL #MiamiFL #FtLauderdaleFL #BocaRatonFL #SouthFlorida #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #FRSO #JVP #AlAwda #SJP #DSA #JMY

Miami FL – On February 11, over 60 people gathered at the Torch of Freedom in Miami during the Miami Heat basketball game to protest a bill up for a vote in the U.S. Senate that would send more than $14 billion to aid in Israel’s genocidal occupation of Palestine.

Laid at the feet of demonstrators were dozens of white cloth bundles, stained red to symbolize the infants killed by the IDF bombing of Gaza. Chants of “From Florida to Palestine, stop the U.S. war machine” and “Money for jobs and education not for war and occupation” rang out to the beat of drums drawing honks, photographs, live streams and support from passersby. Activists distributed informational pamphlets to those exiting the Sunday game and succeeded in distributing every copy they brought.

A speaker gave the reason for the genocide and the necessity of staying the streets, stating, “The genocide in Gaza, why? Because they are trying to resist, they are trying to live!” and quoted Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, “We also deserve to live and we love life,” and for that reason the activist said, “We need to stop this genocide and will not be quite until justice is served!”

Despite slowly escalating police presence, the rally concluded without arrests.

Organizations endorsing the rally of the rally included Freedom Road Socialist Organization in SoFlo, The People for Palestine, Food Not Bombs FtL, SoFlo Antifa, Code Pink SoFlo, Black Rose Miami, Palestine Car Rally, Trans Asylum Seeker Support Network, Samidoun Network, Broward County Democratic Socialist of America, and the SoFlo Working Group to Shut Down Elbit.

#MiamiFL #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #FRSO #Samidoun #CodePink #DSA

Miami, FL – Alex Saab, a Venezuelan diplomat, is now free after long negotiations between Venezuela’s government and the U.S. State Department. Saab flew back to Venezuela on Wednesday, December 20 into the waiting arms of his wife, Camilla Fabri Saab. He will be able to hug his children after more than three years of detention and imprisonment by the U.S. government.

It will be a hero’s welcome for Alex Saab when President Nicolás Maduro greets him at Miraflores Palace for all the country to celebrate his strength and determination. Saab is a man who humbly served the people of Venezuela by negotiating with Iran and other countries for food and medicine, as well as technologies for the oil industry to be rebuilt. Due to U.S.-imposed sanctions on the Venezuelan economy, President Nicolas Maduro enlisted Saab to barter oil and gold to defeat the U.S.-imposed economic crisis.

U.S. sanctions against Venezuela are currently crumbling as the White House needs Venezuelan oil for its European allies. The U.S. created its own crisis however, through the funding and arming of the war in Ukraine and now the Israeli genocide in Palestine, angering the world.

Venezuela wants its economy to meet the needs of its people instead of just making profits for banks and companies on Wall Street or in the city of London. The U.S. goal since President Hugo Chavez first launched the Bolivarian Revolution in 1999 has been to strangle all progress. The Bolivarian Revolution has created productive farms to feed people instead of importing 80% of food, built 4 million new apartments and small houses with running water and electricity, provided public education through high school, 13 new public universities, basic health care for all, and new productive industries other than oil extraction.

In fact, Alex Saab is largely responsible for the failure of U.S. economic sanctions targeting Venezuela and the U.S. was out to punish him. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency tried to recruit him to do their dirty work, but he would not bend. So, the U.S. illegally seized Saab in June 2020 from an airplane in Cape Verde off the coast of Africa. U.S. officials rifled through his diplomatic pouch and belongings while local police detained and imprisoned him.

The U.S. government then renditioned Saab to Miami in October 2021, because the newly-elected President of Cape Verde promised to free him. Ever since, Saab sat in a federal holding cell, appearing at a Miami court hearing beginning December 12, 2022, where the U.S. judge bowed to U.S. State Department and White House demands, ignoring the law and mountains of evidence showing Saab was a special envoy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

News sources are reporting that Venezuela will release some Americans, including two former Green Berets and mercenaries who attempted a failed invasion of Venezuela. They were backed by Miami-based companies when Donald Trump was president. The mercenaries were swiftly captured in their boats, disarmed by local Bolivarian militias, and handed over to authorities.

Besides negotiations for oil and prisoners, the U.S. is also attempting to impose their chosen candidate for president on Venezuela, despite that person being disqualified for breaking election laws.

Tom Burke of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization said, “This is a great day for Alex Saab, for Camilla and her children, and for the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela! It shows that international solidarity is powerful!”

#MiamiFL #International #Venezuela #AlexSaab #Sanctions #FRSO #Feature

In his ruling, Judge Scola wrote, “Saab Moran cannot be entitled to diplomatic immunity because he could not – as a matter of law – have been an agent of the Venezuelan government. At the time of his arrest, Saab Moran was, at best, a special envoy of the Maduro regime, which the United States has not recognized to be the official government of Venezuela since January 2019. So, Saab Moran is not entitled to diplomatic immunity in the United States.”

Tom Burke with the Campaign to Free Alex Saab said, “It is clear the White House and State Department are criminalizing the Venezuelan diplomat responsible for defeating U.S. sanctions. Alex Saab made big trade deals that brought food, medicine, oil industry machine parts, and other materials to Venezuela in exchange for oil and gold. Saab defeated every U.S. effort to strangle the Venezuelan economy. Saab helped to advance the Bolivarian revolution, benefiting all the working people and their children, and U.S. leaders aren't happy about that.”

Cassia Laham, a Miami anti-war activist, said, “The U.S. government’s legal arguments were weak and pathetic. In any other court, in any other country, Alex Saab would have walked free. The judge's ruling proved the political nature of this case and of Saab's kidnapping. The U.S. deems Venezuela a ‘national security threat’ simply because it takes care of its own people without bowing to the dictates of U.S. imperialism. And this can only be done with the help of heroes like Alex Saab.”

In June of 2020, the U.S. government blocked Alex Saab’s plane, which was in route to Iran, forcing it to land in Cape Verde. Saab was on his way to Iran on behalf of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to secure resources and humanitarian goods for the people of Venezuela. Then it asked Cape Verde's government to arrest Saab and detain him. The next day an Interpol arrest warrant suddenly appeared. U.S. intelligence agents rifled through Saab’s belongings and opened his Venezuelan government diplomatic pouch and sealed documents, an outrage to diplomats everywhere.

Then, in October 2021, the U.S. renditioned Saab to Miami, Florida despite there being no extradition treaty between the United States and Cape Verde. This occurred one day before an election in Cape Verde where the leading candidate promised to release Saab if elected.

Since then, Saab's defense team has tried challenge this illegal farce by proving his status as a diplomat. All indications are that Judge Scola’s ruling was a foregone conclusion discussed at the highest levels of the Biden White House and Antony Blinken's State Department.

 There will be an appeal from Alex Saab’s defense team, including the thorough fact-based defense arguments of Jonathan New. This, though, will force Alex Saab to sit in a Miami prison cell for many weeks, perhaps months longer than the 900 days the U.S. has already detained him.

Laham said, “Alex Saab is being punished by the U.S. empire because he was successful at beating U.S. sanctions. He is one of many political prisoners being held in U.S. prisons and we know he will not find justice inside a U.S. courtroom.”

#MiamiFL #Venezuela #PoliticalPrisoners #sanctions #AlexSaab #BolivarianRepublicOfVenezuela #Americas

Miami, FL- Nearly 30 international solidarity, peace and justice activists packed into a crowded courtroom at the Wilke Ferguson Federal Courthouse in downtown Miami on the morning of Monday, December 12 to show support for kidnapped Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab. The special hearing before federal judge Robert Scola, Jr. was on a motion by Saab’s defense team to dismiss the charges against him because he is an official diplomat of the Venezuelan government and should therefore be immune from any prosecution in the United States.

Alex Saab was illegally imprisoned on the island Republic of Cabo Verde, at the directive of the United States on June 12, 2020, for “conspiracy to commit money laundering.” It is an entirely fabricated charge but one that is often used by the United States against those who it views as political opponents. The action was taken in secret, without notifying his defense team and without any necessary or relevant documentation. Alex Saab was then illegally renditioned to the United States from Cabo Verde [also known as Cape Verde] – which does not have an extradition treaty with the United States – on October 16, 2021.

In Miami, local activists were joined by supporters from across the state and country, and even from as far away as Tunisia. They gathered at 8 a.m. outside of the federal courthouse with signs and a banner that read, “Free Alex Saab! Venezuelan diplomat: Kidnapped by the empire.”

At 9 a.m. the activists made their way into the courtroom to witness the hearing. Sitting behind the defense bench, they watched as Alex Saab entered the room a moment later, escorted by federal marshals. He was in a light-brown prisoner uniform, with shackles around his waist and feet, all connected to the handcuffs around his wrists. He wore navy blue Adidas sandals with white socks, his hair was tied in a bun, revealing a tattoo on his neck with his wife’s name: Camila. He seemed in good health and good spirits and conversed with his lawyers.

The defense began its case with the first of three witnesses, and myriad official documents from the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Bolivarian Republican of Venezuela, and even documents from former U.S. government officials – all of which should prove Saab’s status as a special envoy to Iran for the Venezuelan government since 2018.

One of his defense attorneys, Jonathan New, began opening arguments by putting Saab’s 2020 arrest into context.

“Venezuela was trying to overcome years of crippling economic sanctions placed upon it by the United States,” New said. “It was under these circumstances that President Nicolas Maduro appointed Alex Saab as a special envoy to undertake missions to Iran to access secure food, medicine and fuel for Venezuela.”

He explained how the U.S. sanctions, coupled with the global economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, made Saab’s job securing humanitarian goods for the people of Venezuela even more important. He added that Saab traveled multiple times to Iran, “at great personal risk to Mr. Saab given that we were at the height of the COVID pandemic and nowhere close to having vaccines ready.”

The defense showed that the United States knew about these diplomatic trips, and in fact reported on them in various news outlets. As a special envoy, Saab had successfully negotiated with the Iranian government multiple times and secured oil tankers, medical supplies and food from Iran to Venezuela.

“This did not sit well with the United States, as Saab was actively working to reduce the effects of U.S. sanctions,” said attorney New.

The defense went on to say that the issue before the court is simply to decide whether Alex Saab was a special envoy for Venezuela when he was arrested in Cape Verde. If so, the court must dismiss U.S. government’s phony conspiracy charges against him and set him free. As attorney New noted: “If it looks like a duck, acts like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck. Mr. Saab was and is a special envoy.”

Meanwhile the strategy by the prosecution, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Kramer, was less clear. On the one hand, Kramer stated the prosecution will attempt to prove that the legal documents from Venezuela pertaining to Saab’s diplomatic status were somehow forged or falsified; on the other hand, he said the prosecution will also argue that Saab had a “different” type of diplomatic status that does not fall under the Vienna Convention’s diplomatic immunity agreement. It seemed like the government is grasping at straws with these two wildly disparate arguments.

The hearing will continue through the week. More updates from Miami to come.

#MiamiFL #Venezuela #AlexSaab #BolivarianRepublicOfVenezuela #Americas

Miami, FL – An important hearing takes place on Monday, December 12 in the case of Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab. With solidarity activists planning to protest outside the Federal Court building in Miami chanting, “Free Alex Saab,” inside a judge will hear arguments from Saab’s defense that should force him to be set free.

Saab’s defense will assert his status as a Special Envoy to the President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro. As a special envoy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, he is immune to prosecution by the U.S. government.

“The U.S. is singling out Alex Saab for punishment because he is key to bypassing the illegal U.S. sanctions placed upon Venezuela,” says Cassia Laham of the Free Alex Saab Committee. “This kidnapping of a diplomat comes after multiple illegal attempts by the United States at coup d’états and regime change against the Venezuelan government.”

All the U.S. maneuvers against Venezuela have failed so far. In 2002, popularly elected President Hugo Chavez reversed the U.S. backed coup. Later that year, Chavez defeated a management lockout of the oil industry by firing 18,000 managers and bosses. The current president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, defeated another U.S. backed coup on April 30, 2019. Then in 2020 Maduro foiled a U.S. mercenary-led invasion force who were captured by people’s militias before they even hit the beach.

“Alex Saab has done nothing wrong. He certainly does not belong in a U.S. jail,” said Tom Burke, with the Committee to Stop FBI Repression. “He’s a special envoy who made trade deals for food, medicine, technology, and other things that benefit the Venezuelan people. It is U.S. sanctions that need to be on trial. U.S. sanctions are illegal, an act of war.”

Alex Saab was illegally imprisoned in the Republic of Cabo Verde at the directive of the United States on June 12, 2020. Then he was illegally renditioned to Miami from Cabo Verde, despite there being no extradition treaty, on October 16, 2021.

Under the Vienna Convention, a credentialed diplomat such as Saab has absolute immunity from arrest, even in a time of war. Saab has also appealed to the US 11th Circuit Court based on his diplomatic status.

Laham says, “It is now over 900 days since Alex Saab was first jailed by the United States. The U.S. is now negotiating for Venezuelan oil and needs to end the sanctions, war, and aggression against Venezuela. They need to respect Venezuela and reestablish normal ties.”

Burke and Laham will join other solidarity activists and rally to “Free Alex Saab!” on Monday, December 12 at 8 a.m., Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse, 400 N Miami Avenue, Miami, Florida.

There is also a protest to “Free Alex Saab!” in New York City at the United Nations, 46th Street and First Avenue, at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, December 9.

Then a large Milwaukee coalition hosts a Human Rights Day program at 4 p.m., Saturday December 10, at 2319 East Kenwood Boulevard that includes the movie, Alex Saab: A Kidnapped Diplomat.

As well, there will be a Detroit protest demanding “Free Alex Saab!” at the Rosa Parks Federal Building in at 6 p.m., 333 Mount Elliott Street, on Monday, December 12.

#MiamiFL #Venezuela #HandsOffVenezuela #AlexSaab #BolivarianRepublicOfVenezuela #Americas

A dozen cities throughout the United States, from New York City to Miami, to Chicago to Tucson, will host livestreaming events of the movie.

“It is imperative that activists in the United States show solidarity with the people of Venezuela, who have been tirelessly resisting illegal actions by the United States against their country for over a decade,” said Tom Burke, organizational secretary with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. “We have been part of the Free Alex Saab Committee since its inception, and we will be watching the film here in Grand Rapids, Michigan to express our unity with the Bolivarian Republic and its people, and to demand the release of their heroic diplomat.”

Alex Saab was illegally arrested, tortured and imprisoned simply for securing funds, food items and medicine for the people of Venezuela to continue to thrive. For over a decade, the United States has tried to wreak havoc on Venezuela through multilateral sanctions (even during COVID), attempted destabilization efforts, and even assassination attempts – all tactics that have failed miserably and which Venezuela has overcome, in large part thanks to the work of patriotic Venezuelans like Alex Saab.

By putting Saab on trial, the United States has gone against international and U.S. laws alike. International law clearly states that diplomats cannot be extradited, arrested and imprisoned by foreign governments, especially for made-up charges such as the one against Alex Saab. The United States is clearly an empire on its last legs, and it is lashing out with all tools in its arsenal, trying not to lose its grasp on global hegemony, which it sees slipping from its fingers.

We demand the U.S. government stop all attacks on Venezuela, its people, and its representatives! Free Alex Saab!

#MiamiFL #AntiwarMovement #Venezuela #Movies #HandsOffVenezuela #AlexSaab #Americas

It is important for Americans to understand that the current crisis in Ukraine did not begin with Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine; rather, it has been a crisis in the making for decades, as the United States has expanded the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military alliance well beyond original post-Cold War agreements, throughout Eastern Europe and up to Russia’s doorstep.

NATO is a major military alliance that was created in 1949 and was originally composed of the United States and its key Cold War allies in western Europe. The United States helped form this dangerous military alliance in an overtly aggressive move meant to intimidate the Soviet Union and prevent the spread of socialism in post-WWII Europe. In response, the Soviet Union eventually created the Warsaw Pact, a military alliance of its own.

Since the breakup of the Soviet Union and the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact in 1991, the United States has gone back on its word to the Russians to maintain NATO’s Cold War borders. Instead, NATO has expanded to include much of Eastern Europe, surrounding Russia with military bases and weapons, all meant to protect American political and economic dominance.

The United States and NATO have been the biggest purveyors of death and violence in the world since the Cold War began, from Korea to Vietnam, Yemen to Iraq, Yugoslavia to Libya.

And in 2014, with specific reference to the current situation in Ukraine, the United States backed an illegal coup against the democratically elected government of Ukraine. The United States armed and supported fascist, neo-Nazi movements, and militias (like the Azov Battalion) in Ukraine, groups that are responsible for killing thousands of ethnic Russians throughout Ukraine in a war that was never ended.

Since 2014, the end goal of the United States in Ukraine has been to incorporate the country into the ranks of the European Union and NATO. Russia made it clear that absorbing Ukraine into NATO would be unacceptable and would be taken as a military threat. But rather than negotiate in good faith, for seven years the United States resorted to sanctions, more arms to Ukraine, and anti-Russia chest-pounding.

So, when it comes to war, especially in Ukraine, the United States has no room to point fingers, serve as a moral compass, or pass judgement on Russia or any other countries. It is laughable to hear U.S. officials denounce this war, when it did everything it could to instigate it.

And it is even more ridiculous to think that the talking heads in the corporate media care about the people of Ukraine, when they have ignored the NATO-backed starvation and murder of millions of Yemenis for seven years now. Besides, why would anyone believe a word the mainstream media has to say about wars abroad, when these are the same fools who tried to sell the American people Saddam Hussein’s imaginary weapons of mass destruction as justification for the U.S. war in Iraq that would for kill 1 million Iraqis?

As American anti-war activists, it is our responsibility to the global peace movement to first and foremost to demand an end to this country's imperialist expansion and aggression, in Ukraine and around the world. It’s our responsibility to pressure our government to stop using Ukraine as a proxy-war with Russia, and to end NATO expansion. As peace activists in the most powerful imperialist country in the world, we must work ensure that the United States does not continue to escalate through unilateral or NATO military action or any form of warfare, including sanctions.

Those of us who truly want peace must demand:

No War with Russia! No to NATO Expansion! No to Sanctions!

#MiamiFL #AntiwarMovement #PeoplesStruggles #NATO #Ukraine #Russia

Miami, FL- Over 60 members of the South Florida community joined in the monthly caravan in Miami on Sunday, January 30, to demand President Joe Biden end the criminal U.S. blockade on Cuba. The group called on the U.S president to end all sanctions on Cuba, restore the family reunification program and recommence freedom of travel between the United States and Cuba for both Americans and Cubans. The event was organized by the U.S. Hands Off Cuba and Venezuela South Florida and Puentes de Amor.

Dozens of cars draped with banners and signs reading “End the criminal blockade of Cuba,” and “No mas bloqueo,” most donning Cuban flags, left from the Miami City Hall and wound their way through the busy streets of Miami. Members of the caravan honked their horns and blasted traditional Cuban music along the way.

The group planned their route so that the caravan would pass slowly by Versailles, the infamous reactionary Cuban restaurant on Calle Ocho that serves as a gathering place for some of the most far-right elements of the Miami Cuban population.

The impassioned members of the caravan, which was composed largely of recent Cuban immigrants and first or second generation Cuban Americans, ended their drive through Miami at Freedom Plaza in Coral Gables, where they disembarked from their vehicles and rallied at the famous historic Jose Marti monument. Once there, they chanted and listened to speeches in English and Spanish. The atmosphere was festive, and the people were unified.

“Welcome to all who have gathered here today, Cuban and not Cuban, people of all different ideologies and faiths. We are a diverse group, but we stand united in our love for Cuba,” said one of the caravan’s main organizers, Carlos Lazo, in Spanish. Lazo is the internationally known leader of the organization Puentes de Amor, which got on the map in the summer of 2021, after Lazo and a handful of others traveled from Miami to Washington, D.C. to call on President Biden to end the criminal sanctions against Cuba.

“We are here for the Cuban family. We are here to build bridges of love between the Cuban and American people,” Lazo told the crowd. “We are here to say down with the blockade and illegal sanctions. And we invite the entire Cuban community to join us in this cause!”

From the group’s loudspeakers, music blared. Cuban salsa music led to much dancing and celebration throughout the afternoon. Though moments of solemnity occurred during speeches and each time the Cuban National Anthem played, leading the group to join in heartfelt song, hands over hearts.

Across the street, a small handful of angry counter-protesters tried to disrupt the caravan and rally. They wore red Donald Trump caps and shouted expletives toward the members of the caravan, which included grandparents and children. But the ten right-wingers were far outnumbered, and their shouts were drowned out by the celebratory music and chants of “Cuba si! El bloqueo no!” by members of the caravan. In the end, the small group of right-wing Cuban American counter-protesters came across as rather pathetic, and they reeked of the desperation and resentment that accompanies most sore losers.

The caravan and rally were a huge success by any barometer, but especially given the unconducive and often dangerous conditions of organizing Cuba solidarity events in Miami. Since the summer of 2021, the caravans have only grown in strength, unity and numbers. Another caravan is planned to take place in Miami for the last week of February.

#MiamiFL #Cuba #Americas #PeoplesStruggles #blockadeOfCuba

Saab is a unique man who has again and again outsmarted U.S. attempts to punish Venezuela through economic sanctions. The U.S. sanctions aim to shut down sections of the Venezuelan economy – the oil industry, mining and mineral sectors, as well as causing havoc to the water and electricity systems. However, Saab’s international deal-making has frustrated U.S. plans again and again.

Saab is the Venezuelan government’s diplomat who trades Venezuelan oil and minerals for material inputs, machines and replacement parts for a productive and growing economy in Venezuela. Despite U.S. Navy patrols, ships from Iran with much needed oil-refining chemicals and machine parts are arriving at Venezuelan ports. Thus, oil production is back online and reached historic highs in December. Many economists are predicting stabilization, and now growth of over 7% for Venezuela in 2022.

This latest delay in Saab’s 20-month ordeal as a political prisoner is in part due to the Omicron variant of COVID. The Omicron variant is ravaging the U.S. while the Biden administration dithers. The hospital system is overloaded as infection rates soar higher than ever, and American death rates are climbing towards 1 million in the new year. Like millions of other prisoners in the U.S., Saab’s health is at risk in the Miami federal prison.

Originally, the U.S. government bullied Cape Verde, an island country off the coast of Africa, to seize and detain Alex Saab off of a private flight that was refueling on June 12, 2020. Then as a new government in Cape Verde committed to release him, the U.S. forced Saab on to a flight that arrived in Miami, Florida on October 16, 2021. The U.S. ignored court rulings and international law in this process, essentially kidnapping another country’s diplomat.

Once in Miami, Saab faced trial on eight counts, but the U.S. government dropped seven of those due to an agreement with Cape Verde. This leaves only a conspiracy to launder money charge. This charge will be difficult to defend against, given the use of DEA informants and behind the scenes deals by U.S. prosecutors with those who fled criminal charges and justice in Venezuela.

The Committee to Stop FBI Repression (CSFR) is one of many groups protesting Saab’s prosecution by the Biden administration. Tom Burke, speaking for the CSFR said, “We denounce this sham trial as an outrageous act of aggression against the sovereign Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. This U.S. kidnapping of a Venezuelan diplomat shows the U.S. empire’s efforts to harass and sanction Venezuela knows no bounds. We will not let this outrage stand. We will protest together in solidarity outside the courts in Miami, Florida and send a message to the Biden White House and U.S. State Department. Free Alex Saab now! See you on February 16 at the courthouse in Miami.”

#MiamiFL #Venezuela #Americas #PeoplesStruggles #AlexSaab

Miami, FL – Protesters gathered outside the Miami Federal Courthouse in on Monday, November 15 to protest the U.S. government’s illegal kidnapping and imprisonment of Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab. Saab is being held in a federal detention center in Miami.

At Saab’s arraignment he pled, “Not guilty!” to the single charge of “conspiracy to commit money laundering” being levied against him by prosecutors. The six other charges were dropped at Saab’s last court appearance.

While the arraignment proceeded inside the courthouse, ten protesters outside held a large banner and chanted, “Free Alex Saab!”

The spirited protest in Miami was one of dozens held across the country, in solidarity with Alex Saab and Venezuela. Thousands of people took to the streets that day, from Miami to New York, Vancouver to Chicago. In Caracas, thousands of motorists rallied in his support and to defend their country’s sovereignty. Only one week ago, hundreds lined up to receive copies of a book of letters written by Saab himself.

Inside the courtroom, Saab was hauled in front of a judge chained at his legs. This comes after weeks of detention in the United States and months behind bars in the island nation of Cape Verde. Sadly, this is not an unusual move by the American government, as the United States is used to playing global policeman. In fact, the United States has made a habit of throwing bogus charges at any who dare resist its attempts at global empire.

People Opposed to War, Imperialism, and Racism (POWIR) in Miami is joining many other groups in pledging their support for Alex Saab and Venezuelan sovereignty. POWIR opposes the Biden administration’s continuing economic war of U.S. sanctions on the people of Venezuela.

One of the national groups in the coalition supporting Saab is the Committee to Stop FBI Repression (CSFR). The CSFR plans to protest outside the upcoming trial and will demand to be let in the Miami courtroom. CSFR is calling upon activists from across the country to join them in Miami during the trial.

#MiamiFL #PeoplesStruggles #PoliticalRepression #AlexSaab

Miami, FL – On October 24, 30 protesters rallied against the illegal U.S. extradition of Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab. The U.S. Hands Off Cuba and Venezuela South Florida Coalition hosted the event at the Torch of Friendship Park in front of a Simón Bolivar statue. Other groups in attendance included the Bolivarian Circle, POWIR and the Committee to Stop FBI Repression.

Alex Saab was arrested in Cabo Verde in June 2020 while in route to Iran for a trade deal that would help Venezuela amidst the historic U.S. blockade. Venezuela has struggled to provide its people with food and other basic necessities because of U.S. sanctions, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic. Saab was extradited to the U.S. on October 18.

“Everyone should unite with the Bolivarian Circle of Miami and condemn all the actions of the empire, kidnapping blockades and coups. We all need to realize we share an interest in putting an end to these policies,” said Alexa Weber of the Bolivarian Circle.

“We condemn this illegal attempt by the U.S. justice system to imprison and put on trial a Venezuelan diplomat. The U.S. has a long history of furthering its imperialist agenda by making false accusations against the forces in its way, international and domestic. The only way to win in the face of this is solidarity between these forces and fighting back,” said Will Blake of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression.

The protesters united around the need to continue fighting to free Alex Saab and to end the horrific U.S. sanctions starving Venezuelans. There will be another Free Alex Saab protest Monday, November 1 outside the Miami Federal Detention Center.

#MiamiFL #Venezuela #PeoplesStruggles #AlexSaab #Americas

Miami, FL – In the morning hours of Sunday, September 26, roughly 60 protesters gathered outside of Miami City Hall as part of a National Day of Action to demand President Biden end the decades-long blockade of Cuba. The national call was put out by the Cuban solidarity organization Puentes de Amor (Bridges of Love) and was attended locally by Cuban Americans, anti-war activists and community members.

Protesters met outside of the city hall building, holding a large banner that read, “Abajo el bloqueo,” and chanting, “Puentes de amor” and “Biden, end the embargo!” They also listened to a lineup of speakers outlining the impact the embargo has had on Cuba, and who also denounced Miami Mayor Francis Suarez’ call for the United States to use “humanitarian military intervention” against the Cuban government, as the U.S. did in Panama and Yugoslavia.

“When the U.S. starts attacking your country because they don’t like your president or your system, they don’t care if you support the government or not, they will kill indiscriminately and it is your people that will suffer,” said protester Svetlana Radojcic, who spoke to the crowd about her firsthand experience during the U.S.-NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. “So the person who calls for military intervention is either ignorant or very, very cruel.”

At noon, the protesters made their way from the city hall to their cars, all donned with “El bloqueo es un crimen” slogans. They drove through Miami to Margaret Pace Park, where they listened to more speeches, danced to traditional Cuban music, and rejoiced in the significance of gathering such a large group in Miami against the far-right politics that seem to dominate the area. The activists all committed themselves to taking further action until the illegal U.S. sanctions against Cuba are ended.

#MiamiFL #AntiwarMovement #Cuba #Americas #PeoplesStruggles #blockadeOfCuba #PuentesDeAmor

Miami, FL – Thousands of people from across South Florida took to the streets of Miami two nights in a row this past weekend in solidarity with Palestinians who continue to resist Israeli violence and the ongoing occupation of Palestine. The calls to action were put out by South Florida Jewish Voices for Peace and Al Awda: The Palestinian Right to Return Coalition and were supported by most progressive community organizations throughout the area.

On Saturday night, May 15, thousands of protesters flooded Biscayne Park and the Torch of Friendship before taking over the streets of one of the busiest areas in South Florida. Activists held signs that read, “Palestine will be free” and “Stop the genocide in Gaza,” as others waved large Palestinian flags. Chants of “Free, free Palestine,” reverberated from the glassy Miami skyscrapers as protesters marched through the financial district of downtown Miami.

Sunday night’s protest took place in Wynwood, Miami’s art and design district. Once again, an unending sea of protesters took to the streets, shutting down the entire district known for its murals, drinks and overpriced eateries. Notable signs included, “Jews for justice in Palestine,” and “Israel is an apartheid state.” Protesters chanted, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” as their banners and flags waved in the wind. Even the passing Miami rainstorm did not deter protesters from marching and chanting.

Perhaps most impressive was the amount of support from onlookers, shoppers, restaurant employees and customers. Cars honked in support, passersby raised fists in solidarity, patrons stood from their tables and clapped. Unlike past Palestine demonstrations in the area, no counter-protesters showed up.

Organizers reported that both nights of protest were each the largest gatherings for Palestine South Florida has ever witnessed. They vowed to continue the movement with two upcoming events Tuesday, May 18, and Thursday, May 20 in Fort Lauderdale.

#MiamiFL #AntiwarMovement #OppressedNationalities #Palestine #MiddleEast #PeoplesStruggles #AlAwda #JewishVoicesForPeace

Miami, FL – A caravan of some 60 cars and 15 bicycles made up a caravan against the Cuba blockade, October 25 in Miami. It was the fourth caravan here since July. Those in attendance overcame not only threats by right-wing Cubans in the area, but pouring rain in the early morning hours before the 8 a.m. departure.

Initiated by YouTube personality El Proteston Cubano, the caravan included other important individuals and organizations from within Miami's Cuban community, including the Jose Marti Cultural Association; YouTube personalities El Diez de Octubre and Yadira Escobar; a number of people formerly active with the Alianza Martiana going back to the 1990s and the ATC (Association of Workers in the Community) and inspired by the new generations coming forward now. One participant made the two-hour drive south in pouring rain from Fort Pierce. The Green Party of Miami-Dade County was present as were numerous activists from the U.S. Hands Off Cuba and Venezuela South Florida Coalition.

The coalition distributed a flyer in Spanish and English to everyone present urging the defense of our movement and to oppose threats of violence made by right-wingers against Carlos Lazo, a Cuban activist in Seattle whose cross-country bike trip to Washington, DC, demanding an end to the blockade helped inspire El Proteston to start the caravans in Miami.

Many activists expressed a desire to become involved in a planning meeting to carry out such a defense effort and to broaden the organization and building of this important new Miami political tradition.

The next caravan will be on Sunday, November 29.

#MiamiFL #Cuba #PeoplesStruggles #Americas

Miami, FL – Thousands took to the streets of Miami June 6, to protest police violence against Black and brown communities in the U.S. and to continue demanding justice for George Floyd. Protesters called for arresting killer cops in all cities, demilitarizing the police, and community control over the police. They took to the streets and marched for miles along Biscayne Avenue, from the Torch of Friendship at Bayside all the way to Wynwood.

There were two different marches happening simultaneously in Miami plus several others in cities like Miramar and Davie in Broward County.

There were also several actions the day before in both Broward and Miami Dade counties, and another is planned for Sunday, June 7, in Wynwood, Miami's arts district, with more protests likely to come on Tuesday. Mass actions continue to be called throughout South Florida.

#MiamiFL #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #GeorgeFloyd

Miami, FL – UPS Teamsters across the country are participating in a nationwide moment of silence today, December 9, for #Frank Ordonez, the 27-year-old UPS package car driver killed in a police shootout after being taken hostage by armed robbers. Many Teamsters are questioning the tactics used by police, noting that the officers’ trigger-happy actions were not normal for a hostage situation and resulted in not only the death of Frank Ordonez but the death of union representative Rick Cutshaw and endangered the lives of many others.

The moment of silence took place at 5 p.m. Eastern Time, the time Frank Ordonez’s memorial service began. Many delivery drivers stopped working and parked their trucks in the midst of the busiest season of the year to pay their respects to Frank Ordonez. Not only UPS drivers, but FedEx, Holland, R+L Carriers and even a fire truck participated. The call for the nationwide moment of silence began on social media and quickly went viral with many UPS Teamsters sharing the call on their own profiles. The nationwide action was not just limited to drivers but also included inside workers who wrote “#Frank” in the dirt on the backs of trailers and trucks and posted signs inside their buildings.

The official statement from UPS, where the company thanked the police officers for their “service,” has made a number of Teamsters wonder which side the company is on.

“UPS didn't even mention Frank Ordonez’s name in their tweet about it, but they defended and praised the police, the people who killed him. It definitely tells me how little they care about us; how disposable we all are,” said Emily Butt, a UPS Teamster out of Lansing, Michigan.

This is not the first time a Teamster has been murdered by police. Last year, a young part-time UPS Teamster, Elijah Smith, was killed fleeing from police, searching for a place to hide. Philando Castile, a school cafeteria worker, was murdered by a police officer in 2016 at a traffic stop.

Darwin Argueta, a part-timer at UPS out of Salt Lake City, Utah said of Ordonez, “It just saddens me deeper to know how excited he must’ve been working his first day alone. We all remember and look forward to that.”

It’s clear that police officers need accountability from the public in order for these senseless murders of working people to be stopped. Community control of the police, a main demand of the newly refounded National Alliance against Racist and Political Repression, provides the model for such accountability.

UPS recently rolled out “Follow My Delivery” a service that allows some customers to see exactly where the UPS truck is via GPS. Many drivers are criticizing UPS for neglecting their safety, as the tracking puts UPS workers at risk of violent attack.

#MiamiFL #PeoplesStruggles #Teamsters #PoliceBrutality #UPS #FrankOrdonez

After committing a failed robbery at a jewelry store in Miami suburb Coral Gables, the two burglars carjacked a UPS truck and took the driver hostage. They led police on a chase 20 miles north to Miramar. Upon getting stuck in traffic, police immediately began using cars filled with civilians who were waiting at a traffic light as human shields. They fired blindly into the truck with automatic rifles and killed not only the burglars, but the hostage and a motorist who happened to be on the scene.

Miramar resident Conor Munro said, “I watched the whole episode unfold live. That intersection is one of the busiest in the area, and the police turned it into a war zone. Instantly hundreds of cops were on the scene, firing easily 50 times. It’s no surprise they killed an innocent woman just sitting in her car. The killers need to be charged. Not only that, there needs to be a way we can stop this from happening again. Endless police militarization will only lead to more deaths like these. We need community control of the police now.”

Teamsters locals across the country released statements expressing their condolences for the driver and his young family. Meanwhile, UPS released a statement thanking law enforcement for their work without acknowledging the murder, implicitly taking the side of the police over Ordonez, his family, and the safety of UPS workers everywhere.

#MiamiFL #PeoplesStruggles #Teamsters #PoliceBrutality #UPS