Thomas Foley: “I rise today once again to talk about one of the last hostile regimes on the planet, an island 90 miles to the south of…”

“I rise today once again to talk about one of the last hostile regimes on the planet, an island 90 miles to the south of my home State of Florida, Cuba. For well over 40-plus years, Fidel Castro has time and time again shown his reprehensible disregard for the safety and welfare of his own people. His tyrannical regime has forced countless innocent people to risk their lives to seek the shores of the United States. What is worse, these people go to the furtherest of extremes, even placing other countrymen at risk in order to seek freedom. On April 2, in another one of the countless stories of Cubans trying to seek refuge, a group of three men attempted to take over a ferry ship and force it to go to the United States. Though I am in no way supportive of hijacking or putting others at risk, it is clear from our history with this oppressive Nation that its people will do almost anything for just a taste of freedom. The men were prosecuted on Tuesday, those three men, in summary trials for very grave acts of terrorism and given only a few days to appeal their sentences. This pathetic excuse for a judicial system never gave these men a chance. I must report to this body that, earlier today, these three men were executed. Mr. Speaker, these actions were not that of terrorists but those of people seeking freedom. It is clear that these men never intended to harm anyone.”