Miami caravan challenges Florida’s new Cuba travel restrictions

On July 5, more than 30 cars formed a caravan in Miami to protest the recently passed Sellers of Travel Act.

Reactionary legislator David Rivera designed the Sellers of Travel Act to target Cuba’s tourism industry.

The caravan was organized by the progressive Christian Cuban Women’s Association in Defense of the Family, just one of the dozen organizations of the Alianza Martiana. It started in West Miami and traveled east down the main thoroughfare, Flagler St., through Little Havana, Coral Gables and downtown. Party for Socialism and Liberation members participated in the caravan.

The caravan resounded loudly as drivers honked and chanted out of their windows. It went on for many blocks while pedestrians and people in their homes came out to show their support for the demands: “End the travel ban to Cuba now!” “The family is sacred,” “Freedom to travel now!” The success of the event was evident in the energetic responses from the people.

The Sellers of Travel Act, designed by reactionary legislator David Rivera, requires that travel agents and other companies post bonds of up to $250,000 and pay up to $2,500 in annual fees if they sell trips to any country designated a “state sponsor of terrorism.” (Miami Herald, July 1)

Though the designation “state sponsor of terrorism” is applied to other U.S. targets for the purposes of demonization, in the context of Florida politics it is understood that the law is meant to target Cuba. Florida, particularly Miami, is home to many Cuban counterrevolutionaries who fled the island following its 1959 socialist revolution.

The law is being challenged by 16 travel vendors. A July 11 hearing to be presided by Judge Alan Gold has been postponed until Aug. 29 at the state’s request. Should the law go into effect following Gold’s ruling, many travel agencies in Florida may simply have to stop selling trips to Cuba. (Miami Herald, July 8)