Book Release On The 21st Anniversary Of Fidel Castro’s Visit To The South Bronx, October 23rd, 1995
Few Bronxites are aware that President Fidel Castro of Cuba visited the South Bronx to attend a dinner organized by the National Puerto Rican Business Council on October 23, 1995. Julio Pabón, organizer of that dinner and author of the new book: “KNOCKOUT: Fidel Castro Visits The South Bronx,” is having a book release party to commemorate the 21st anniversary of Castro’s historic visit on Sunday, October 23rd at El Maestro’s Boxing Gym, 1300 Southern Blvd, 1 PM to 6 PM.
That October 1995 dinner — held at Jimmy’s Bronx Café on Fordham Road — was organized as a reaction to then mayor, Rudy Giuliani’s disinviting President Castro from a dinner at Gracie Mansion organized for all 180 delegates who came to New York City for the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations.
Pabón and others originally planned to simply write a press release critiquing Mayor Giuliani and hinting that President Castro was welcomed in the Bronx. No one thought that a simple press release would turn into an invitation that would bring a world-known leader to the borough.
After two decades, Mr. Pabón, a Bronx native, has written a personal memoir of how and what led to that unexpected dinner. No foreign visitor from any country had ever caused such tumult in a community that rarely received anything but negative new coverage. The Cuban government happily shared official documents and photographs related to President Castro’s Bronx visit with Pabón.
Mr. Pabón described the book as a comedy of errors and promises that it will be enjoyable reading with lessons for all generations of readers.
The book release event will be held on:
Date: Sunday October 23rd, 2016
Time: 1pm – 6pm
Place: El Maestro Boxing Gym
1300 Southern Blvd.
Bronx, NY 10459
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