Fernando Martinez, a partner of the restaurant group behind La Bodeguita de Mima, spoke to the crowd on Sunday. KATHRYN HARRINGTON
On Sunday, more than 30 members of Louisvilles Cuban community held a NuLu rally in support of Fernando Martinez, a local restaurant group owner embroiled in a conflict with Black Lives Matter supporters.
Last Wednesday in a Facebook post, Martinez denounced mafia-like tactics from Black Lives Matter Louisville organizers, who issued a list of demands to NuLu businesses. The demands asked, among other things, for businesses to hire staff to reflect the citys Black population and for retail shops to buy at least 23% products from Black people or make monthly donations of 1.5% of net sales to an area Black nonprofit or organization.
At the rally, Cuban American supporters gathered on the steps of Martinezs NuLu business, La Bodequita de Mima, holding signs decrying socialism, and Martinez gave an impassioned speech about his support for diversity and distaste for Marxism, which he has accused Black Lives Matter of promoting.
La Bodeguita is open to everybody, said Martinez. If youre gay, this is your home. If youre Black, this is your home. If youre white, this is your home. If you are human, this is your home.
Here are photos by LEO photographer Kathryn Harrington of the protest.
Many held signs denouncing socialism on the steps of La Bodeguita De Mima. KATHRYN HARRINGTONMany different signs were created for the rally on Sunday in response to a list of demands for NULU businesses by Black Lives Matter to address the gentrification in the area. KATHRYN HARRINGTONMany held signs denouncing socialism on the steps of La Bodeguita De Mima. KATHRYN HARRINGTONA crowd gathered on the steps and sidewalk in front of La Bodeguita De Mima on Sunday. KATHRYN HARRINGTONFernando Martinez, a partner of the restaurant group behind La Bodeguita de Mima, spoke to the crowd on Sunday. KATHRYN HARRINGTONMembers of the Cuban community gathered to suppord La Bodeguita de Mima on Sunday at the rally. KATHRYN HARRINGTONSupporters of La Bodeguita de Mima brought signs and flags to the rally on Sunday. KATHRYN HARRINGTONPresident of the Cuban American Association of Kentucky Berta Weyenberg and General of the Revolutionary Black Panther Party of Kentucky Ahamara Brewster embraced as Brewster spoke to the crowd at the rally on Sunday. KATHRYN HARRINGTONA crowd gathered on the steps and sidewalk in front of La Bodeguita De Mima on Sunday. KATHRYN HARRINGTONA crowd gathered on the steps and sidewalk in front of La Bodeguita De Mima on Sunday. KATHRYN HARRINGTONMembers of the Cuban community gathered to suppord La Bodeguita de Mima on Sunday at the rally. KATHRYN HARRINGTONPresident of the Cuban American Association of Kentucky Berta Weyenberg and General of the Revolutionary Black Panther Party of Kentucky Ahamara Brewster shook hands at the rally on Sunday. KATHRYN HARRINGTONGeneral of the Revolutionary Black Panther Party of Kentucky Ahamara Brewster spoke to reporters after the rally on Sunday. KATHRYN HARRINGTONLuis David Fuentes with El Kentubano spoke to the crowd on Sunday outside of La Bodeguita de Mima. KATHRYN HARRINGTON
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