Vigil at FIU to mark Brothers to the Rescue anniversary

Posted on Monday, 02.24.14

Vigil at FIU to mark Brothers to the Rescue anniversary
BY CBS4

A silent vigil took place at the main fountain of FIU Monday afternoon
to remember the four victims of the 1996 Brothers to the Rescue shoot
down that took place 18 years ago.

The vigil began at 3:21 p.m. and end at 3:27 p.m. - the exact time the
planes were shot down on Feb. 23, 1996.

Killed were Mario de la Pena Jr., Armando Alejandre, Carlos Costa and
Pablo Morales, all fliers aboard two Brothers to the Rescue planes
dropping pro-democracy leaflets over Cuba.

Cuba had sent out warnings about flying over Cuban air space but the
pilots were not over Cuban air space when they were shot down.

Those taking part said they want to demand justice for the victims of
the shoot down and for the recent victims of violence in Venezuela that
has taken place in the past two weeks.

The group will recognize Orlando Zapata Tamayo, the Cuban hunger striker
who died after an 83-day hunger strike on February 23, 2010.

The vigil has been held every year for the past 18 years at the campus
at Southwest 107th Avenue and Eigth Street.

Source: Vigil at FIU to mark Brothers to the Rescue anniversary - West
Miami-Dade - MiamiHerald.com -
http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/02/24/3957663/vigil-at-fiu-to-mark-brothers.html