Facing backlash, FIU taps human-rights voice to join ‘Cuban Privilege’ author at talk

Facing backlash for inviting the author of a book exploring Cuban advantages in U.S. immigration law, Florida International University’s president on Friday announced a venue change and the addition of a speaker who is a leading advocate against the Cuban regime.

On Monday, a Miami-Dade County commissioner condemned FIU for inviting Boston University Professor Susan Eva Eckstein to speak Dec. 9 about her new book, “Cuban Privilege: The Making of Immigrant Inequality in America.” Commissioner Kevin Cabrera, the son of Cuban immigrants, said he read excerpts of the book and called it “hate-filled” and “anti-Cuban.”

Eckstein called it an academic exploration of a reality in U.S. immigration policy, which makes it easier for Cubans to remain in the United States than it does for immigrants from other countries. “I say the U.S. should give more equity and equality to other immigrants, not to take rights away from Cubans,” she said last week.

Initially, the head of FIU’s Cuban Research Institute responded to Cabrera that the planned event at the Books and Books store in Coral Gables was appropriate and encouraged him to attend. On Friday, the state-funded school’s president, Kenneth Jessell, released a letter with a redesigned event.

Joining Eckstein as a speaker will be Orlando Gutierrez-Boronat, author of “Cuba: The Doctrine of the Lie” and spokesperson for the Cuban Democratic Directorate, a group that fights human-rights abuses in Cuba. The 7 p.m. event is also leaving Books and Books, located in Cabrera’s district, for larger quarters at FIU’s Modesto A. Maidique Campus, in the Wertheim Performing Arts Center. Jessell said the move was to accommodate high interest in the event.

“The event now ensures that we meet the academic rigor and standards of debate and preserve everyone’s right to express their point of view while remaining mindful and sensitive to the experiences of our community,” Jessell wrote.

Mitchell Kaplan, owner of Books and Books, said the Gables business was happy to continue playing host but the controversy sparked too much interest for the kind of seating the bookstore provides. “We present books of all kinds,” Kaplan said. “I think the fact that FIU is going forward with the event shows their commitment to academic freedom. And that’s a good thing.”

In a statement, Cabrera supported the change from a “one-sided, divisive” event. “I’m encouraged by this initial response by FIU,” he said.

This story was originally published December 2, 2022 at 6:47 PM.