[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 28883]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 ABEL PEREZ HONORED FOR ``20 DE MAYO''

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 5, 1999

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Mr. Abel 
Perez on the 30th anniversary of his newspaper, ``20 de Mayo.''
  In July 1960, after being threatened by the Castro regime, Mr. Perez 
left Cuba with his pregnant wife in search of freedom and democracy in 
the United States. Later that year, Abel joined the Brigade 2506, which 
took part in the Bay of Pigs invasion against the communist government 
of Fidel Castro. After his return in 1962, they settled in California 
where Abel began to work for Mattel toymakers.
  Aided by a small group of Cubans who were worried about communism in 
their homeland, the 20 de Mayo Spanish newspaper was founded on October 
1969. Abel dedicated all his time to let the people in the United 
States know the truth about tragic events of Castro's dictatorship.
  In the 1980's, Mr. Perez's community service was exemplified by 
helping Cuban refugees from the Mariel exodus, gathering a group of 
professionals in what was called the Cuban Assistance League. This 
organization helped the refugees to find shelter, as well as medical 
and financial assistance during the most critical years after their 
arrival in the United States.
  I am proud to say that as the years passed, ``20 de Mayo'' has become 
one of the leading voices of freedom, democracy, and justice for all 
Hispanics residing in this country.

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