Parkland Student Faces Criticism For Displaying Cuban Flag at March — Here is What Cubans Had to Say

A flag is usually a symbol of a specific country a person gives allegiance and honor to. Yet for Cubans, it signifies a call to action and respect for their rich culture.

Emma González is a survivor of the Parkland shooting. She is also Cuban. During the March For Our Lives rally in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, she wore a jacket with a Cuban flag on one sleeve.

Many conservatives were quick to point out the irony of her displaying the flag, claiming that because of the nation's corrupt government she should not have been wearing it. Among those was Congressman Steve King (R-IA), who harshly criticized the nation's past in a Facebook post.

Yet many Cubans are coming to her defense and offering a different perspective to conservative politicians. Miguel Monduy, who immigrated from Cuba when he was 12 years old and now serves in the U.S. Navy, believes that conservative critics miss the point of wearing the Cuban flag.

“As Cubans, we are always striving to improve and there is a huge sense of honor in carrying Cuban blood,” Monduy said. “We hope to wave our flags to let others know how far we've come and how far we will continue to go.”

Isabel Salazar, a college student who lives in Miami, Florida, has immense pride for her flag but also understands why some are criticizing those who display it.

“Part of my family was actually killed in the Tugboat Massacre in 1994,” said Salazar. “I can see how the Cuban flag is viewed as something bad because it represents a dictatorship that has cold-heartedly killed so many people and separated so many families throughout the decades. However, I still have immense pride in my culture and my people, which is what I attach national pride to.”

Sam Fuentes, another Parkland survivor, also gave her perspective on the issue:

Shout out to @Emma4Change for representing our beautiful island of Cuba, by wearing the flag on her sleeve. I’m a activist but before that I’m a proud Cuban woman. So if you have problem with Emma, you now have a problem with TWO strong Latina women.

Girls support girls, period.

— Sam Fuentes (@funkpuncher) March 27, 2018

Rodolfo Garcia, who also lives and works in Miami, believes that the flag is not the issue but it is people who don't understand their rights.

“I don't see how a march for gun control has anything to do with Emma González's Cuban heritage,” Garcia said. “I personally believe you should be free to be an activist for social change without having to worry about backlash due to your culture.”

“We love our nation, love our country, but hate our government so the only way to control our lives is by improving every day,” Monduy said. “That way of life sticks with you and is sealed in your soul even when you leave the country. That gives us a true sense of pride and speaks for the character of the Cuban people and I can't imagine why that wouldn't cause you to wave your flag and display it anywhere you can!”

While they may still have pride in their country of origin, Monduy claims that it is added to the pride they have for the United States.

“Whatever Cuba lacks as a country the U.S. has added to my life,” Monduy said. “We will keep our heritage and pride, but with that also comes that perfect balance that every Cuban-American carries with them.”