Ninoska Pérez Castellón
Encyclopedia
Ninoska Pérez Castellón is a prominent member of the Cuban exile
community in Miami
, and outspoken opponent of Fidel
and Raul Castro
. In relation to this mission of hers, she was one of the founding members of the Cuban Liberty Council
with her wife Roberto Martin Perez.
She is a notable Spanish
radio talk show host and political commentator on Radio Mambi and Radio Martí
. She is also an occasional columnist for the Miami Herald.
, Cuba
on March 15, 1950. Her family fled the island to the United States on June 5, 1959, following the triumph of the Cuban Revolution
. A few months later her family was granted political asylum, while her brothers and uncles eventually took part in the April 1961 failed Bay of Pigs invasion
. Ever since, she has resided in Miami where she has played an active role in opposing the Cuban regime.
She is a graduate of Miami-Dade College and the University of Miami
.
in Key West, Florida
. On June 23, 2011, Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart introduced a record in the US Congress House of Representatives under "Proceedings and Debates of the 112th Congress, First Session". Diaz-Balart recognized the "work and accomplishments of a distinguished radio journalist, artist and community activist of South Florida, Ninoska Perez Casttellon, deserving our upmost respect for promoting democracy and freedom.
, was imprisoned for 27 years and 8 months (1959-1987) because of his "involvement in a conspiracy" against Fidel Castro organized by the Dominican dictator, Rafael Trujillo. Perez was released from jail reportedly through the intervention of the Panamanian leader, General Manuel Noriega
.
, headquartered in Miami's Little Havana
district.
Perez has remarked that one of the proudest career moments was in January of 2009, when President George W. Bush
called into Radio Mambi eight days before turning over the reins of power to President Barack Obama
, recounting that Bush told her he "would have liked to implement the plan for a post-Castro Cuba that we had prepared."
Cuban exile
The term "Cuban exile" refers to the many Cubans who have sought alternative political or economic conditions outside the island, dating back to the Ten Years' War and the struggle for Cuban independence during the 19th century...
community in Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, and outspoken opponent of Fidel
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
and Raul Castro
Raúl Castro
Raúl Modesto Castro Ruz is a Cuban politician and revolutionary who has been President of the Council of State of Cuba and the President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba since 2008; he previously exercised presidential powers in an acting capacity from 2006 to 2008...
. In relation to this mission of hers, she was one of the founding members of the Cuban Liberty Council
Cuban Liberty Council
The Cuban Liberty Council is a not-for-profit organization whose stated goal is to promote liberty and democracy in Cuba.- Activities:CLC was founded October 10, 2001...
with her wife Roberto Martin Perez.
She is a notable Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
radio talk show host and political commentator on Radio Mambi and Radio Martí
Radio Martí
Radio y Televisión Martí is a radio and television broadcaster based in Miami, Florida, financed by the United States government , which transmits Spanish radio broadcasts to Cuba...
. She is also an occasional columnist for the Miami Herald.
Early life
She was born Lucrecia Ninoska Perez Castellon in HavanaHavana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba
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...
on March 15, 1950. Her family fled the island to the United States on June 5, 1959, following the triumph of the Cuban Revolution
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959. Batista was finally ousted on 1 January 1959, and was replaced by a revolutionary government led by Castro...
. A few months later her family was granted political asylum, while her brothers and uncles eventually took part in the April 1961 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...
. Ever since, she has resided in Miami where she has played an active role in opposing the Cuban regime.
She is a graduate of Miami-Dade College and the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
.
Media career
Pérez is both a radio host at Radio Mambi and TV host of Ultima Palabra, a political show on WGEN-TVWGEN-TV
WGEN-TV is a Spanish-language television station in Key West, Florida, broadcasting locally on VHF channel 8 as a Spanish-language independent station under the GenTV branding...
in Key West, Florida
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
. On June 23, 2011, Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart introduced a record in the US Congress House of Representatives under "Proceedings and Debates of the 112th Congress, First Session". Diaz-Balart recognized the "work and accomplishments of a distinguished radio journalist, artist and community activist of South Florida, Ninoska Perez Casttellon, deserving our upmost respect for promoting democracy and freedom.
Artist
Ninoska recently launched her career as an artist with a series of whimsical watercolors reminiscent of her native Cuba. Her "Habaneras" were unveiled in Cuba Nostalgia in 2010 Miami Herald - Myriam Marquez - May 23, 2010 and also in Cuba Nostalgia 2011, El Nuevo Herald - Sarah Moreno - May 20, 2011. Ninoska has also exhibited in Solo Art Miami Inaugural Show 2010, the South Miami Art Festival, Carnaval on the Mile Coral Gables and others. In her own words, "Painting is returning to my lost City" referring to the City of Havana where she was born. She frequently donates her paintings to humanitarian causes for fund raising efforts, such as La Liga Contra el Cancer, Women Against Repression, Cuban American Bar Association, Cuban Cultural Heritage and Amigos for Kids.Roberto Martin Perez
On September 26, 1987 she married the recently-released former Cuban political prisoner, Roberto Martin Perez. Perez, the son of a high-ranking officer for the ousted Cuban dictator Fulgencio BatistaFulgencio Batista
Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar was the United States-aligned Cuban President, dictator and military leader who served as the leader of Cuba from 1933 to 1944 and from 1952 to 1959, before being overthrown as a result of the Cuban Revolution....
, was imprisoned for 27 years and 8 months (1959-1987) because of his "involvement in a conspiracy" against Fidel Castro organized by the Dominican dictator, Rafael Trujillo. Perez was released from jail reportedly through the intervention of the Panamanian leader, General Manuel Noriega
Manuel Noriega
Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno is a Panamanian politician and soldier. He was military dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989.The 1989 invasion of Panama by the United States removed him from power; he was captured, detained as a prisoner of war, and flown to the United States. Noriega was tried on...
.
Cuban Liberty Council
In July 2001, both Perez and her husband resigned from the Cuban American National Foundation in protest over the CANF's "softening" of its once-hardline stance against the Castro brothers. Along with several other prominent CANF defectors, the couple helped form the Cuban Liberty CouncilCuban Liberty Council
The Cuban Liberty Council is a not-for-profit organization whose stated goal is to promote liberty and democracy in Cuba.- Activities:CLC was founded October 10, 2001...
, headquartered in Miami's Little Havana
Little Havana
Little Havana is a neighborhood of Miami, Florida, United States. Home to many Cuban immigrant residents, Little Havana is named after Havana, the capital and largest city in Cuba. The approximate boundaries are the Miami River , SW 16th Street , SR 9/West 27th Avenue and I-95...
district.
Perez has remarked that one of the proudest career moments was in January of 2009, when President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
called into Radio Mambi eight days before turning over the reins of power to President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, recounting that Bush told her he "would have liked to implement the plan for a post-Castro Cuba that we had prepared."