Cubans that came through Mariel in 1980, owe the country of Peru.
They took in 10,672 Cubans in their embassy. They put up with our craziness, pig sty, and our volatility, day in and day out.
Men like Ambassador Pinto Bazurco, who is now 77, still alive and well. He stood up face to face with Fidel and told that murderer “Peru is not going to turn over one single Cuban who wants asylum.”
That is courage!!! 15 days later the first boats arrived in Cuba from Key West to get the people from the embassy.
Today I met with the Peruvian general counselor in Los Angeles. He was moved when he saw my dedication to Peru in the book in the Spanish version of “Barefoot to freedom,” or “Descalza hacia la libertad.”
If you came to the USA via Mariel, when you meet a Peruvian, thank them for holding the embassy open until 125,000 people found freedom.
I was there for 45 days, I was a witness. The USA welcomed us. Our Cuban brothers and sisters went to get us. Sin Perú no hubiera Mariel.
Viva Cuba libre and May God bless the country of Peru.
HVW