HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-21-0077City of Miami
Resolution R-21-0077
Legislation
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 8684 Final Action Date: 2/25/2021
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION URGING PRESIDENT
JOSEPH R. BIDEN, JR. AND THE LEADERS OF THE 117TH CONGRESS OF
THE UNITED STATES INCLUDING THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADER
OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS, AND THE FLORIDA
LEGISLATURE 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): Mayor Francis X. Suarez, Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla,
Commissioner Joe Carollo, Commissioner Manolo Reyes
WHEREAS, February 24, 2021 marks the twenty-fifth (25th) anniversary of the massacre
of the unarmed civilian Brothers to the Rescue aircraft in international airspace; and
WHEREAS, at around 3:00 p.m. on February 24, 1996, the Cuban air force scrambled
two (2) MiG fighter jets to intercept the Brothers to the Rescue unarmed 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 United States citizen, and passenger Pablo Morales, a permanent
United States resident; and
WHEREAS, the brutal attack by the Cuban dictatorship resulted in the downing of two
(2) Brothers to the Rescue unarmed civilian aircraft and the murder of four (4) young men who
lived in our community; and
WHEREAS, the Brothers to the Rescue pilots were members of a humanitarian
organization whose objective was to search for, help, and rescue rafters who jumped into the
sea in search of freedom; and
WHEREAS, these martyr pilots were not warlike equipped and were in international
airspace, demonstrating once again the brutality of the regime against anyone who supports
freedom and democracy; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Francis X. Suarez and the City of Miami Commission have
committed to the residents of the City of Miami ("City") that they will never let go of the hand of
those who fight for democracy; and
City of Miami Page 1 of 2 File ID: 8684 (Revision:) Printed On: 5/16/2025
File ID: 8684 Enactment Number: R-21-0077
WHEREAS, these martyrs and their families need justice after a quarter of a century and
the City calls out for it; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 2-33(f) of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida,
as amended, the City Commission, by a majority vote, hereby deems this Resolution to be of an
emergency nature;
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 Joseph R. Biden, Jr., the
leaders of the 117th Congress of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the
United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the
House of Representatives, Governor Ron DeSantis, the Speaker of the Florida House, the
President of the Florida Senate, and all Mayors of the United States Conference of Mayors 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 the officials
named herein.
Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
end ety Nttor ey 3/25/2021
City of Miami Page 2 of 2 File ID: 8684 (Revision:) Printed on: 5/16/2025