Emilio Milian Speech
Feb 6, 1977
[Reference:
Dade County Florida OCB case # 3-92-22]
FEBRUARY 6, 1977
SPEECH BY EMILIO MILIAN
"THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE OF B'NAI B'RITH"
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am deeply grateful for the honor that the Florida Regional
Board of
the Anti-Defamation League of B'Nai B'Rith has bestowed upon
me today:
The Leonard L. Abess Human Relations Award.
I am proud to be the recipient of this important recognition
for my
community service, democratic convictions, and firm
beliefs. This
is certainly an unforgettable and reward experience that
comes during
very difficult times for me.
The man that speaks before you today is a mutilated
one. The
result of exercising his right to oppose terrorism, defend
human
freedom, and my speaking out against criminals and their
crimes.
For this I have been condemned to death without a trial,
without the
right to defend myself - the jury has given its verdict in
darkness and
without my presence. The execution could come at any
time.
For me there is no opportunity to appeal my case or defend
my rights.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is a true case of discrimination
that is
rarely talked about. It is a violation of my
constitutional
rights by a radical minority, a handful that uses terrorism
to impose
their ideas on the majority. It is disgraceful that
this is
happening at a time when this country has just celebrated
its 200th
birthday.
Nine months have passed since the attempt on my life in
which I lost
both legs, and still the criminals have not yet been
captured and
judged.
The local authorities, because of the public outrage, have
made considerable effort to find the terrorists.
However, the results are: new murders, new threats,
increased
terrorism - a clear product of the impunity that the
terrorists enjoy
today.
Recently, just a few hours after a telephone conversation
with Juan
Jose Peruyero, during which he told me that he had strong
evidence in
my case as a result of his investigations, Peruyero, a
strong
anti-communist fighter, was assassinated in front of his
home without
having been able to relay the important message he had for
me.
My hopes that the crime that took my legs would have been
the last one,
vanished. Instead new threats have been made against
my life and
other Cuban leaders.
This week I was obligated, because of continued threats and
a lack of
police progress in my case, to send a telegram to The
Reporter's
Committee for Freedom of the Press in Washington, D.C. which
in part
reads as follows:
"I received reliable information that I will be assassinated
in the
next few days. As you remember, last April I notified
the police
about the fact that the terrorists would put a bomb in my
car.
Three days later, on April 30th, it happened. I lost
my legs and
almost my life..."
The prince that the terrorists asked to save my life is too
high: to
give away my dignity, my freedom, and to submit myself to
silence. I will not pay!
One death for the cause of freedom, however, is a sacrifice
which has the power to mobilize millions of consciences.
The Cuban Apostle of Liberty, Jose Marti, said that: "Men
march in two
groups: those who hate and destroy, and those who love and
construct".
I wish to walk with those who love and construct, but at the
same time
to bring awareness to a third group: those who stand still
and do not
participate because, unfortunately, in this age of fear,
moral apathy
has gotten a hold of people.
We need a spiritual awakening that will put us all on the
side of
justice in order to be able to confront decisively and
openly the
biggest and most dangerous challenge that our civilization
faces:
TOTALISTARISM and its favorite weapon: TERRORISM.
If I am silenced, in one way or another, it will constitute
a blow to
this democratic society. It would be a moral triumph
to the
totalitarism that enslaves millions of human beings all over
the world,
among them my fellow Cubans and thousands of Jews in Russia,
who suffer
as well.
I, like most of the Cubans that live here, and possibly like
many of
you or your families, came to this country as refugees,
escaping from
communism, looking for a free society.
This handful of terrorists do not represent the Cuban
community who loves democracy and justice as much as you and
I.
That is why, here, I am asking for your help in getting the
federal
authorities' to take strong action to bring to justice this
vicious
group and end this type of discrimination, once and for all.
On the other hand, If I have to die now, this humanitarian
award would
take another dimension, a more meaningful expression of what
it reads:
"In recognition of his dedicated service to the people of
Florida: His
personal leadership in improving inter-group relations and
his
opposition to extremism, bigotry and discrimination
significantly
advanced the cause of human rights in our democratic
society".
Thank you very much.
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