Cuban Immigrant Praises DeSantis’ Declaration of Victims of Communism Day in Florida

'I think it's truly important for our children to learn the truth. I am grateful that the governor understands that.'

A Cuban woman is symbolically gagged and tied up with chains and barbed wire to protest the regime of Cuban leader Fidel Castro and denounce the lack of freedom of expression in Cuba during a pro-democracy anti-Castro march through the streets of Little Havana in Miami, Fla., on Dec. 10. Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty Images

Governor Ron DeSantis signed a proclamation declaring Nov. 7 as the first annual Victims of Communism Day in Florida.

Florida is home to millions of individuals who fled communist governments to seek freedom. To honor those who suffered under these despotic regimes, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 395 into law on Nov. 7, establishing a day during which Florida’s students will learn about the atrocities committed by communist regimes and of the millions who were persecuted and lost their lives under communist rule.

Maximo Alvarez is one of those millions.

Maximo Alvarez stands before a painting done by a Cuban artist depicting him fleeing Havana on the last cargo ship leaving Cuba on July 4, 1961. Courtesy of Maximo Alvarez

Since arriving in the United States at the age of 13 as part of Operation Pedro Pan, Alvarez feels blessed to have had an opportunity to live the “American dream.”

Today, as an American, Alvarez is a director on the Board of Trustees at Florida State University and president of Sunshine Gasoline Distributors. He was also one of the people chosen to give a speech at the 2020 Republican National Convention. Alvarez also spends much of his time warning Americans about the illusions and false promises of communism.

“I think it’s truly important for our children to learn the truth,” Alvarez told The Epoch Times. “I am grateful that the governor understands that.”

During a time “when Marxism, socialism, and communism are actively promoted by prominent politicians and pop-culture figures in our own country,” DeSantis said “it is more important than ever” to teach Florida’s schoolchildren the “horrific history of communist countries” and to let them “hear from individuals who suffered under the rule of communist dictators.”

Alvarez has many stories.

“I saw it personally,” he said. “I saw people being murdered because they said the wrong thing. I saw people jailed because a neighbor accused them of something.”

It pains Alvarez to see the same things happening in America. Conservative voices are being censored. Neighbors are encouraged to turn in their neighbors. Jan. 6 protesters are arrested and the president calls MAGA Republicans a threat to democracy. The 87,000 new IRS auditors who “will be commanded to carry a weapon” and to use deadly force, is another concern.

“That’s typical communist philosophy,” Alvarez insisted. “Rule by terror, so the people watching will know that if they support the guy they don’t like, the same will happen to you.”

“My parents had the courage to send me to America,” Alvarez recalled, his voice breaking with emotion. “Talk about courage. Talk about sacrifice. This is the greatest country in the world. But I am concerned that if this country falls my kids and grandkids will have to place to go.”

“We are a spoiled nation,” Alvarez lamented. “We are born in an air-conditioned room. No matter how poor you are, you have drinking water and food on the table. Don’t take that for granted. Let’s not make up stories for our children. Let’s tell them the truth.”