New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was forced to apologize yesterday after shouting a slogan coined by Cuban revolutionary and Fidel Castro supporter, Che Guevara at a rally for Miami airport workers.
The New York Post reports:
“The eyes of the world are on this airport, the eyes of the world are on Miami-Dade,” de Blasio told the workers, before ending with, “Hasta la victoria, siempre.”
The phrase translates to “Ever on to victory!” and was a mantra for Guevara, one of Fidel Castro’s top lieutenants.
Democrat presidential candidate Bill de Blasio quotes communist terrorist Che Guevara while speaking in Miami pic.twitter.com/l4WsplvkPf
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) June 27, 2019
Needless to say, Comrade de Blasio’s comments did not sit well with the large Cuban population in Miami, many of whom fled Castro’s communist regime.
Florida state Sen. Jose Javier Rodríguez, called on the mayor to apologize.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio blasted de Blasio on Twitter, writing, “Bill DeBlasio went to a rally at the #Miami airport today & ended his speech by quoting from the murderous Che Guevara’s farewell letter to Fidel Castro. But how dare anyone call him or any democrat candidate a socialist.”
Bill DeBlasio went to a rally at the #Miami airport today & ended his speech by quoting from the murderous Che Guevara’s farewell letter to Fidel Castro.
But how dare anyone call him or any democrat candidate a socialist. https://t.co/IjIOTSI9GV
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) June 27, 2019
Of course, de Blasio claimed he had no idea the history of the phrase, and apologized for his words.
“I did not know the phrase I used in Miami today was associated with Che Guevara & I did not mean to offend anyone who heard it that way,” he tweeted.
“I certainly apologize for not understanding that history. I only meant it as a literal message to the striking airport workers that I believed they would be victorious in their strike.”
I did not know the phrase I used in Miami today was associated with Che Guevara & I did not mean to offend anyone who heard it that way. I certainly apologize for not understanding that history. (1/2)
— Bill de Blasio (@BilldeBlasio) June 27, 2019
I only meant it as a literal message to the striking airport workers that I believed they would be victorious in their strike- BdB. (2/2)
— Bill de Blasio (@BilldeBlasio) June 27, 2019
