Alpha 66
Encyclopedia
Alpha 66 are an anti-communist terrorist organization, formed by Cuba
n exiles in Puerto Rico
in 1961, in opposition to Fidel Castro. The founder and first leader, Nazario Sargen, was a former member of the 26th of July Movement
organization led by Fidel Castro, suggesting that their politics may have been left-wing. The group trained during the 1960s and 1970s in the Everglades
for an eventual armed invasion
of Cuba.
Though an invasion never materialized after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion
, the group continued its violent efforts against the Cuban communist government. In 1976, Miami Police's Lieutenant Thomas Lyons and Detective Raul J. Diaz testified that groups including Alpha 66 had international terrorist ties and had sold $100 "bonds" in Miami to help finance their causes. The group was linked to a spate of bombings and assassinations in Miami during the 1970s, directed at Pro-Castro speakers. No Alpha 66 member was convicted of these crimes, however; and other terrorist groups, such as Omega 7
and CORU, were active in Miami at the same time. A week before Lyons and Diaz's testimony, broadcaster Emilio Milian's legs were blown off by a car bomb
outside his workplace.
Alpha 66 continues to be an organized entity. The current leader of this paramilitary group is Ferdinand de Montejo, who currently resides in Hollywood, Florida
.According to a verifiable source, a member of AlPHA 66 for over 20 years, there was always a suspicion that the movement's leadership was in reality guided by the communist government of Cuba since every single person that went to infiltrate Cuba was "always" expected already and executed within the first four hours of arriving the island, this claim is also supported by the fact that Nasario Sargent (its leader), would "always" call the radio stations and newspapers "two" days "before" the infiltration "even" giving specific details such as the number of people that was being sent at the particular time, that would usually be composed of a team of five ill prepared young boys between the ages of 17 and 21. Ex-member Julio Camacho also corroborated this version.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n exiles in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
in 1961, in opposition to Fidel Castro. The founder and first leader, Nazario Sargen, was a former member of the 26th of July Movement
26th of July Movement
The 26th of July Movement was the revolutionary organization planned and led by Fidel Castro that in 1959 overthrew the Fulgencio Batista government in Cuba...
organization led by Fidel Castro, suggesting that their politics may have been left-wing. The group trained during the 1960s and 1970s in the Everglades
Everglades
The Everglades are subtropical wetlands in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, comprising the southern half of a large watershed. The system begins near Orlando with the Kissimmee River, which discharges into the vast but shallow Lake Okeechobee...
for an eventual armed invasion
Invasion
An invasion is a military offensive consisting of all, or large parts of the armed forces of one geopolitical entity aggressively entering territory controlled by another such entity, generally with the objective of either conquering, liberating or re-establishing control or authority over a...
of Cuba.
Though an invasion never materialized after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs Invasion was an unsuccessful action by a CIA-trained force of Cuban exiles to invade southern Cuba, with support and encouragement from the US government, in an attempt to overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro. The invasion was launched in April 1961, less than three months...
, the group continued its violent efforts against the Cuban communist government. In 1976, Miami Police's Lieutenant Thomas Lyons and Detective Raul J. Diaz testified that groups including Alpha 66 had international terrorist ties and had sold $100 "bonds" in Miami to help finance their causes. The group was linked to a spate of bombings and assassinations in Miami during the 1970s, directed at Pro-Castro speakers. No Alpha 66 member was convicted of these crimes, however; and other terrorist groups, such as Omega 7
Omega 7
Omega 7 was a small Cuban paramilitary group based in Florida and New York made up of Cuban exiles whose stated goal was to overthrow Fidel Castro. The group had less than 20 members....
and CORU, were active in Miami at the same time. A week before Lyons and Diaz's testimony, broadcaster Emilio Milian's legs were blown off by a car bomb
Car bomb
A car bomb, or truck bomb also known as a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device , is an improvised explosive device placed in a car or other vehicle and then detonated. It is commonly used as a weapon of assassination, terrorism, or guerrilla warfare, to kill the occupants of the vehicle,...
outside his workplace.
Alpha 66 continues to be an organized entity. The current leader of this paramilitary group is Ferdinand de Montejo, who currently resides in Hollywood, Florida
Hollywood, Florida
-Demographics:As of 2000, there were 59,673 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of...
.According to a verifiable source, a member of AlPHA 66 for over 20 years, there was always a suspicion that the movement's leadership was in reality guided by the communist government of Cuba since every single person that went to infiltrate Cuba was "always" expected already and executed within the first four hours of arriving the island, this claim is also supported by the fact that Nasario Sargent (its leader), would "always" call the radio stations and newspapers "two" days "before" the infiltration "even" giving specific details such as the number of people that was being sent at the particular time, that would usually be composed of a team of five ill prepared young boys between the ages of 17 and 21. Ex-member Julio Camacho also corroborated this version.
In popular culture
The group was featured in the 2003 film Bad Boys 2 and on the TV show Max X.External links
- Official Website
- Terrorist Network Operating Openly In The United States by Jane Franklin, ZNETZ CommunicationsZ Communications is a radical left-wing media group founded in 1986 by Michael Albert and Lydia Sargent. It advocates participatory socialism as a replacement for capitalism. Its publications include Z Magazine, ZNet, Z Media, and Z Video.Z Communications is based outside Woods Hole, Massachusetts...
, April 30, 2005 - The Coddled "Terrorists" of South Florida by Tristram Korten and Kirk Nielsen, Salon Magazine, January 14, 2008