IMPROMPTUS: “Surprise!” &c. | Directorio Democrático Cubano

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IMPROMPTUS: “Surprise!” &c.
By Jay Nordlinger

Something remarkable happened on Saturday night. The Cuban Interests Section in Washington held a

little soirée. That's not so remarkable. What's remarkable is that it was brilliantly disrupted by freedom activists.

A group called Professionals in the City arranged the soirée. They're described as "a social and networking organization" (and you can see for yourself, at their website).

Let me give you a taste of an article about the event. The complete article is found here, on a website called TheRealCuba. Scroll down to the piece headed "Freedom network outdoes Castro's Security in its own nest."

Saturday night Cuban officials expelled a group of peaceful advocates from a gala at the Cuban Interests Section in Washington for distributing cards allusive to repression in Cuba. Party organizers had ignored numerous calls and e-mails objecting to Cuba's totalitarian regime and asking for the event to be canceled or the venue changed.

The black tie event at $89-99 per guest was organized by Professionals in the City, a social and networking organization. It had been heavily promoted as an extremely unique opportunity "to explore the culture, cuisine, and music of Cuba, one of the most fascinating and misunderstood nations of our time."

Partygoers were promised "a true Havana evening," at the "gorgeous mansion with thick red carpet and crystal chandeliers." The house, built in 1917, was once the official embassy of Cuba. A scrumptious buffet, flowing alcohol, music, and dance followed salsa lessons held two days before.

Okay, here's where it gets interesting. Some freedom-and-democracy types who had infiltrated the event started to hand out cards, which highlighted oppression in Cuba (e.g., the imprisonment of Oscar Biscet, among many others). The activists were quickly set upon by Castro's agents and thrown out.

In one case, a woman . . . was surrounded by several male agents and angrily told she had to leave as they grabbed her cards. When she refused to hand over the cards, two agents squeezed her strongly by both arms. As they pulled her down the stairs, she began crying out "Freedom for Cuba." On Sunday, she proudly showed off her bruises as her father's day gift to her dad, killed when she was a toddler at the Bay of Pigs after he had fought under Castro for democracy in Cuba.

Nice going, sister. Same with all the rest.

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