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Cuban Americans rally in support of Nulu restaurant owner

Cuban Americans rally in support of Nulu restaurant owner
CALLING FOR UNITY. WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY. WE WILL NOW THE ENEMY OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY THE CUBAN COMMUNITY. IS THAT THE ENEMY OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY STANDING ON THE FRONT STEPS OF HIS RESTAURANT BUSINESS OWNER FERNANDO MARTINEZ DEFENDED HIMSELF AND CALLED FOR UNITY PEOPLE OUT THERE TRYING TO DEFINE WHO I AM AS A BUSINESSMAN AND WE ARE DOZENS OF CUBAN BLACK AND WHITE SUPPORTERS ATTENDED SUNDAY’S RALLY ORGANISED BY THE CUBAN-AMERICAN. ASSOCIATION OF KENTUCKY WE CAN BE TOGETHER WE CAN HAVE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION, BUT WE CAN LIVE TOGETHER IN LOUISVILLE IN PEACE. THE RALLY COMES ABOUT A WEEK AFTER PROTESTERS MARCHED IN NEW LOW AND GAVE SOME OF THE LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS HERE A LIST OF DEMANDS. THE LIST CALLS FOR NULU BUSINESS OWNERS TO HIRE MORE BLACK STAFF REQUIRED DIVERSITY TRAINING AND CONTRIBUTE MONETARILY TO ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO RACIAL JUSTICE MARTINEZ A CUBAN IMMIGRANT DENOUNCED THE DEMANDS IN A SOCIAL MEDIA POST LAST WEEK AND SAYS HE WAS THERE. EXTORTED AND IS BUSINESS VANDALIZED ME AS A MAN. I’M A TRUE BELIEVER OF HUMAN DECENCY RESPECT FOR ALL AMERICAN COMMUNITY, BUT SOME PEOPLE WERE HERE LAST WEEK TRAINING THEM BULLYING THEM AND WE DECIDED NO, WE DON’T WANT THAT RALLY ORGANIZERS ALSO DETAILED THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT THEY SEE AS A RISING TIDE OF SOCIALISM IN THE U.S. ALTHOUGH THEY DID NOT SPECIFY WHETHER THEY BELIEVE THE ONGOING PROTESTS ARE PART OF THAT MOVEMENT. REASON THAT WE ARE HERE IS BECAUSE THIS SYSTEM BECAUSE SOCIAL IS DOESN’T WORK. IT DOESN’T WORK AMARA BREWSTER A GENERAL WITH THE REVOLUTIONARY BLACK PANTHER PARTY. SPOKE AT THE RALLY. SHE AGREES WITH THE DEMANDS PROTESTERS MADE BUT SAYS THEY ACTED DISRESPECTFULLY YOU’RE TAGGING OR A BLACK GROUND ESTABLISHMENT, BUT YOU’RE IN THE NAME OF BLACK LIVES MATTER, WAIT A MINUTE, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING’S WEIRD ABOUT THIS MARTINEZ EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION WITH BEING LABELED SOCIAL MEDIA AND SAYS, HIS OPINION SHOULDN’T TEAR A COMMUNITY APART. IT’S OPEN TO EVERYBODY IF YOU’RE GETTING THIS IS YOU HOME IF YOU’RE BLACK PIECES YOU HOME IF YOU’RE RIGHT. THIS IS YOUR HOME IF YOU ARE HEARING THI
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Cuban Americans rally in support of Nulu restaurant owner
Dozens of people rallied outside La Bodeguita de Mima restaurant Sunday in a show of support for the business owner. The Cuban-American Association of Kentucky organized the rally after restaurateur Fernando Martinez says he became the target of social media attacks and vandalism by racial justice protesters. Protesters demonstrated in Nulu just over a week ago, with some handing out leaflets with a list of demands for business owners in the neighborhood. The list called on owners to hire more Black staff, require diversity training, and donate to organizations dedicated to racial justice, among other things. Martinez denounced the list of demands in a social media post, saying protesters were trying to intimidate him. A press release for the event stated that people on social media were ordered to "get" Martinez. A small group came to the restaurant and "more threats were made and some property was destroyed." On Sunday, Martinez expressed frustration with being called "racist" on social media and defended himself."There are people out there who are trying to define who I am as a man, who I am as a businessman, and who we are as a community," Martinez said from the steps of his restaurant. "We need to come together as a community. We're not an enemy of the Black community. The Cuban community is not the enemy of the Black community." Several members of the Cuban-American Association of Kentucky spoke in support of Martinez. "There were some groups that definitely don't represent the African American community but some people were here last week, threatening them, bullying them and we decided no we don't want that," said Berta Wayenberg, president of the association. Martinez, a Cuban immigrant, and many attending the rally spoke at great length about what they see as a rising tide of socialism in the United States. "The reason we are here is because the system, because socialism doesn't work. It doesn't work," said Luis David Fuentes. Fuentes did not specify whether he believes the ongoing protests calling for racial equality are part of that movement. Ahamara Brewster, a general with the Revolutionary Black Panther Party also spoke at the rally. She said while she agrees with the demands protesters made, she believes their approach was disrespectful."You're attacking a Black-brown establishment, but you're in the name of Black Lives Matter? Wait a minute, something's weird about this," Brewster said. Martinez cited differing opinions as essential to democracy and said disagreement should not tear apart a community."La Bodeguita is open to everybody. If you're gay, this is your home. If you're Black, this is your home. If you're White, this is your home. If you're human, this is your home," he said.

Dozens of people rallied outside La Bodeguita de Mima restaurant Sunday in a show of support for the business owner.

The Cuban-American Association of Kentucky organized the rally after restaurateur Fernando Martinez says he became the target of social media attacks and vandalism by racial justice protesters.

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Protesters demonstrated in Nulu just over a week ago, with some handing out leaflets with a list of demands for business owners in the neighborhood. The list called on owners to hire more Black staff, require diversity training, and donate to organizations dedicated to racial justice, among other things.

Martinez denounced the list of demands in a social media post, saying protesters were trying to intimidate him. A press release for the event stated that people on social media were ordered to "get" Martinez. A small group came to the restaurant and "more threats were made and some property was destroyed."

On Sunday, Martinez expressed frustration with being called "racist" on social media and defended himself.

"There are people out there who are trying to define who I am as a man, who I am as a businessman, and who we are as a community," Martinez said from the steps of his restaurant. "We need to come together as a community. We're not an enemy of the Black community. The Cuban community is not the enemy of the Black community."

Several members of the Cuban-American Association of Kentucky spoke in support of Martinez.

"There were some groups that definitely don't represent the African American community but some people were here last week, threatening them, bullying them and we decided no we don't want that," said Berta Wayenberg, president of the association.

Martinez, a Cuban immigrant, and many attending the rally spoke at great length about what they see as a rising tide of socialism in the United States.

"The reason we are here is because the system, because socialism doesn't work. It doesn't work," said Luis David Fuentes. Fuentes did not specify whether he believes the ongoing protests calling for racial equality are part of that movement.

Ahamara Brewster, a general with the Revolutionary Black Panther Party also spoke at the rally. She said while she agrees with the demands protesters made, she believes their approach was disrespectful.

"You're attacking a Black-brown establishment, but you're in the name of Black Lives Matter? Wait a minute, something's weird about this," Brewster said.

Martinez cited differing opinions as essential to democracy and said disagreement should not tear apart a community.

"La Bodeguita is open to everybody. If you're gay, this is your home. If you're Black, this is your home. If you're White, this is your home. If you're human, this is your home," he said.