HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-20-0033City of Miami
Resolution R-20-0033
Legislation
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 7209 Final Action Date: 2/13/2020
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AFFIRMING THAT ANY
MUSICAL GROUPS THAT SUPPORT DICTATORIAL REGIMES AND
THEREBY REAP THE REWARDS OF THEIR COMPLICITY WITH SUCH
REGIMES ARE NOT WELCOME IN THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY"); FURTHER
AFFIRMING THAT ANY SUCH GROUPS THAT HAVE RECEIVED
CEREMONIAL KEYS TO THE CITY OR SIMILAR PROCLAMATIONS SHOULD
IMMEDIATELY RETURN SAID KEYS AND PROCLAMATIONS TO THE CITY
UNTIL SUCH GROUPS ARE WILLING TO STAND WITH THE FREEDOM
LOVING PEOPLE OF THE CITY AND DENOUNCE THE CUBAN REGIME AND
OTHER SIMILAR DICTATORIAL REGIMES AND DEMAND RESPECT FOR
THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS OF ALL OF THE VICTIM'S OF SUCH REGIMES.
WHEREAS, in 2016, Mayor Tomas Regalado and members of the Miami City
Commission presented the Cuban musical group Gente de Zona with the ceremonial Key to the
City of Miami; and
WHEREAS, subsequent to this good will gesture from the City of Miami ("City"), the
group Gente de Zona was observed sharing the stage in Havana, Cuba with Raul Guillermo
Rodriguez Castro, grandson of Raul Castro, the strongman of the Cuban Regime, and
WHEREAS, Gente de Zona, while performing in Cuba, called the Cuban Dictator Miguel
Diaz-Canel its President and asked for applause for him; and
WHEREAS, Gente de Zona had taken its picture with a Cuban flag with the picture of
Che Guevara on it; and
WHEREAS, all of the stated above were rightly perceived as insensitive to the plight of
the Cuban diaspora in the City; and
WHEREAS, thereafter, there was a groundswell of anger in the City over the group's
insensitivity which caused a cry from the community to rescind the good will gesture and
demand a return of the Key to the City; and
WHEREAS, the group's attitude towards the City's community has been considered as
an offense to the many Cuban exiles in the City who had been victims of the Cuban dictatorial
regime and whose wounds have not yet healed; and
WHEREAS, the former Mayor publicly demanded for the Key to the City to be returned;
however, no record of its return has been found; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission recently resolved its support for freedom of expression
and found that it should be available to all and not just a favored few; and
City of Miami Page 1 of 2 File ID: 7209 (Revision:) Printed On: 4/29/2025
File ID: 7209 Enactment Number: R-20-0033
WHEREAS, the City Commission wishes to reaffirm that musical groups that support
dictatorial regimes and thereby reap the rewards of their complicity with such regimes are not
welcome in the City and any such groups that have received ceremonial Keys to the City or
similar proclamations (collectively, "Proclamations") should immediately return the
Proclamations until such groups are willing to denounce the Cuban regime and demand the
respect for basic human rights for all Cubans and similar victims of other dictatorial regimes;
and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2-33(f) of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as
amended, the City Commission unanimously deems this Resolution to be of an emergency
nature in order to immediately protect the public health, welfare, and safety of the City's
residents;
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 City Commission hereby resolves that any musical groups that support
dictatorial regimes and thereby reap the rewards of their complicity with such regimes are not
welcome in the City and any such groups that have received Proclamations should immediately
return said Proclamations until such groups are willing to stand with the freedom loving people
of the City and denounce the Cuban regime, and other similar dictatorial regimes, and demand
respect for the basic human rights for all of the victims of such regimes.
Section 3. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
City of Miami Page 2 of 2 File ID: 7209 (Revision:) Printed on: 4/29/2025