HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-20-0063City of Miami
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Resolution: R-20-0063
File Number: 7250
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
Final Action Date: 2/24/2020
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION URGING PRESIDENT
DONALD J. TRUMP AND THE LEADERS OF THE 116TH CONGRESS OF THE
UNITED STATES INCLUDING THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADER OF
THE UNITED STATES SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AND THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES TO ENCOURAGE ALL FEDERAL AGENCIES TO DO
EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO BRING TO JUSTICE ALL OF THOSE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SHOOTING DOWN OF THE BROTHERS TO THE
RESCUE AIRCRAFT ON FEBRUARY 24,1996; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK
TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS NAMED
HEREIN.
SPONSOR(S): Commissioner Joe Carollo, Mayor Francis X. Suarez, Commissioner
Manolo Reyes, Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla
WHEREAS, February 24, 2020, marks the twenty-fourth (24th) anniversary of the
shoot down of the Brothers to the Rescue aircraft; and
WHEREAS, on February 24, 1996, the Cuban dictatorship ordered their Russian
made military aircraft to shoot down two Brothers to the Rescue unarmed civilian aircraft
resulting in the murder of four young men who lived in our community; and
WHEREAS, at around 3 p.m. on February 24, 1996, the Cuban air force
scrambled two MiG fighter jets to intercept the Brothers to the Rescue civilian aircraft;
and
WHEREAS, at 3:21 p.m. on February 24, 1996, the Cuban pilots fired on the first
Brothers to the Rescue unarmed civilian aircraft more than 16 miles from the Cuban
coast, killing pilot Carlos Costa, a U.S. citizen, and passenger Pablo Morales, a
permanent U.S. resident; and
WHEREAS, approximately five minutes later, General Ruben Martinez Puente
"personally authorized" a Cuban Air Force MiG-29 to destroy the second aircraft and at
3:28 p.m., the Cuban Air Force pilots shot down the second Brothers to the Rescue
unarmed civilian aircraft, killing pilot Mario de la Pena and passenger Armando
Alejandre, both U.S. citizens; and
WHEREAS, since that date the United States government has indicted three of
the individuals responsible for the shoot down including the MiG pilots Lorenzo Alberto
Perez -Perez and Francisco Perez -Perez who shot down the Brothers to the Rescue
aircraft and the leader of the Cuban Air Force at that time, General Ruben Martinez
Puente, who ordered the shoot down; and
City of Miami Page 1 of 2 File ID: 7250 (Revision:) Printed On: 3/5/2020
File ID: 7250
Enactment Number: R-20-0063
WHEREAS, the charges in the indictment include four counts of murder, two
counts of destruction of aircraft and one count of conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals and if
convicted, they could face the death penalty; and
WHEREAS, it is time to do everything within the power of the United States
government to find the three individuals responsible for this heinous crime and to bring
them to justice in the United States of America;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this
Resolution are adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The Miami City Commission urges President Donald J. Trump and
the leaders of the 116th Congress of the United States to encourage all federal
agencies to do everything in their power to bring to justice all of those responsible for
the shooting down of the Brothers to the Rescue civilian aircraft on February 24, 1996.
Section 3. The City Clerk is directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to
President Donald J. Trump and the leaders of the 116th Congress of the United States
including, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Minority Leader of the
United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Minority
Leader of the House of Representatives.
Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
1
�A( r .. r_� I i ria i ' ndez, City Attor iey 2/27/2020
City of Miami Page 2 of 2 File ID: 7250 (Revision:) Printed on: 31512020