Parade, Tradition and Activism

The 35th annual Three Kings Day Parade took place yesterday in Little Havana down Calle Ocho. It is a tradition for many Cuban-Americans and other Hispanics in South Florida. On a beautiful, cool day under cobalt blue skies, an estimated 500,000 people lined the famous street to see marching bands, floats, and grand marshal Zach Thomas (that's right - the football player Zach Thomas).

This year, something extra took place very near the parade route - Ramon Saul Sanchez's hunger strike. Sanchez's protest is taking place right off of Calle Ocho on 13th Avenue, and many parade attendees stopped by to wish Sanchez well.

Latest word is that Governor Jeb Bush and Auxiliary Bishop Agustin Roman have gotten involved and are trying to convince the White House to set up a meeting with Cuban exile groups to discuss the wet foot/dry foot issue. A later edition of the Miami Herald not available on-line suggested that the White House has already set up a meeting, which would satisfy Sanchez and end his hunger strike.

Stay tuned.