Obscene gesture at Trump rally outside beloved ‘Ermita’ church stirs controversy
.jpg "A group of supporters of Donald Trump raises the middle finger in protest against Cuban ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel, according to activist Eliécer Ávila, at the Ermita de la Caridad.")
Images of some protesters displaying an obscene gesture during a rally outside the beloved Ermita de la Caridad church in Coconut Grove over the weekend sparked heated debate across social media that continued through Monday.
The demonstration, which attracted a few dozen people, was organized by Eliécer Ávila, leader of the Cuban opposition group Somos+ as a show of support for the police force, the reelection of President Donald Trump and his administration’s tightened restrictions on the Cuba embargo and other measures against the Cuban government.
At one point, several demonstrators displayed their middle fingers. The images were shared on social media, prompting reaction on both sides of the political spectrum.
“They came to Miami, but this group has not escaped totalitarianism,” Ricardo Herrero, executive director of Cuba Study Group, an organization that seeks to “facilitate change, empower people and promote the development of civil society,” posted on Twitter.
“Trump deserves to be supported without vulgarity,” posted Raymel de Armas. “How nice, taking out the middle finger with Our Lady of Charity in the background. I do not know who they are an example to follow because that photo leaves much to be desired.”
Ávila, 35, said on Monday that the image was taken out context.
“There are some Democratic friends who ...have tried to use the photo to distort what happened there,” he said.
According to Ávila, the obscene gesture was made when the protesters were asked what they had for the ruler of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel.
“The Democratic Party in Florida has no proposal or commitment to the Cuban community,” said Ávila. “They are not going to confuse us.”
Ávila also criticized the South Florida press for not covering the protest, saying it has been “sold” to the “radical left.”
“It is very irresponsible what they are doing. They are hiding the voice of the community and viralizing the agenda of the followers of Nicolás Maduro and China,“ he said.
The Democratic campaign issued a statement criticizing the gesture.
“For far too long, the Trump campaign has pretended to care about Cubans while deporting Cubans, questioning the need for Little Havana, and refusing to ease travel restrictions to the island. This past weekend’s grotesque display at a Trump rally at La Ermita de la Caridad shows yet again just how little respect Trump has for the Cuban-American community,” said Kevin Munoz, a spokesman for the Joe Biden campaign. “La Ermita de la Caridad is a Catholic place of worship and a safe space for Cuban refugees, and for President Trump’s campaign to desecrate that space is shameful.”
Trump’s team, meanwhile, told el Nuevo Herald that the demonstration called by Ávila was a private event not associated with the campaign. Ávila also rejected the statements of the Democratic campaign saying that his demonstration was “against the expansion of communism in the United States and for the freedom of Cuba.”
A spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Miami said it was not aware of nor did it support the demonstration: “The Church should not be used for partisan purposes and with little decorum,” adding that it would be “counterproductive” for the church to “be or seem” partisan because its mission “must speak to the whole of society.”
Since his arrival in South Florida, Ávila rapidly increased his presence on social networks, accumulating more than 75,000 followers on Facebook and a similar number of subscribers on YouTube, where he broadcasts a program of several hours live.
In recent weeks, he has been especially critical of the Black Lives Matter movement, which has organized protests across the country against racial discrimination and injustice.
This story was originally published July 27, 2020 at 7:29 PM.
