Jan 22, 2007 7:15 pm US/Eastern
Posada Carriles Demonstrator Defends His Stance
Beatriz Canals
Reporting
(CBS4) MIAMI The organizer of a protest that ended in a fight in Little Havana last week spoke to CBS4 News, telling us he is real victim.
Miguel Saavedra was one of the dozens of demonstrators who showed up to the Bay of Pigs Invasion Memorial Friday in support of Cuban militant Luis Posada Carriles. Saavedra and his followers were accused by members of the Bolivarian Students group of attacking, spitting and hitting them while they held up signs against Posada Carriles across the street.
“They were making fun of our pain in front of a memorial that is very important to the Cuban people,” said Saavedra. “We cannot allow them to provoke us that way.”
Saavedra also addressed the question of him throwing a megaphone at one of the counter-protesters as he chased them down the street. He says he threw it as a means of scaring the group and to get them to leave.
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http://cbs4.com/topstories/local_story_022183855.html~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Jan 21, 2007 8:36 pm US/Eastern
Pro And Anti Posada Supporters Speak Out On Brawl
Art Barron
Reporting
(CBS4) HOLLYWOOD Both groups involved in a scuffle over Cuban Militant Luis Posada spoke out Saturday, blaming one another for the outburst of violence.
Both sides attended a rally supporting anti-Castro militant Luis Posada Carilles on Friday, as he faces a federal trial and possible deportation. As cameras captured the scene, the Posada supporters crossed the street and started attacking the Posada opponents.
“It was a direct attack on us,” says Michael Martinez, who was one of the Posada protestors. “We did not respond to any of the violence. The other side was kicking, spitting, and throwing objects.”
Approximately 80 people had gathered at the Bay of Pigs Memorial on SW 8th Street in Miami to show their support for Posada about Noon Friday, playing music and showing flags and banners. The protesters urged people driving by to show their support for Posada, a former CIA operative who is suspected of plotting the bombing of a Cuban jetliner 30 years ago.
While the first group demonstrated, a smaller group of about 30 people gathered across the street and started yelling, calling Posada a terrorist. The situation quickly turned to violence, and as television camera captured the scene the Posada demonstrators ran across the street and began attacking the anti-Posada protesters.
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http://cbs4.com/topstories/local_story_021203928.html~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~For anyone who may care, the leader of this group of half-wits, Miguel Saavedra, with Vigilia Mambisa, brought his group to raise hell at the Miami-Dade Presidential election recount in 2000.