Diaz-Balart: We Must Redouble Our Commitment to Cuban Democracy in Honor of ‘Brothers to the Rescue'

Washington, D.C.–Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) released the following statement in remembrance of the seventeenth anniversary of the “Brothers to the Rescue” plane shoot-down. Two American civilian planes were flying over international waters and were shot down by the Castro regime.

“Yesterday marked the seventeenth anniversary of the brutal shoot-down by the Castro dictatorship of two “Brothers to the Rescue” planes, which claimed the lives of Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre, Mario de la Peña, and Pablo Morales.

“The anniversary of this heinous, terrorist act over international waters is a grim reminder of the true nature of the Castro regime, and is one of many reasons that the regime remains a U.S.-designated state sponsor of terrorism. Not only have the Castro brothers increased their violent oppression of the Cuban people; they have opposed U.S. interests worldwide and actively aided America’s enemies for decades.

“While we mourn the loss of the four generous humanitarians whose lives were lost seventeen years ago, we must redouble our commitment to their mission of promoting liberty for the Cuban people and continuing our resolve to hold their murderers accountable for their crimes and acts of terror.”