as a federal prosecutor for nearly 20 years I can tell you that I have seen a
years I can tell you that I have seen a
years I can tell you that I have seen a lot those who sacrifice to make us safe
lot those who sacrifice to make us safe
lot those who sacrifice to make us safe and I have seen the worst traits of
and I have seen the worst traits of
and I have seen the worst traits of humanity those who are driven by abuse
humanity those who are driven by abuse
humanity those who are driven by abuse by greed and hatred I am not here to
by greed and hatred I am not here to
by greed and hatred I am not here to lecture you about the law or about any
lecture you about the law or about any
lecture you about the law or about any piece of jurisprudence so you’re okay I
piece of jurisprudence so you’re okay I
piece of jurisprudence so you’re okay I am here to tell you a story I want to
am here to tell you a story I want to
am here to tell you a story I want to share with you an experience that was
share with you an experience that was
share with you an experience that was very meaningful to me and something that
very meaningful to me and something that
very meaningful to me and something that came to mind immediately when I realized
came to mind immediately when I realized
came to mind immediately when I realized that we were here together as a
that we were here together as a
that we were here together as a community to discuss the concept of
community to discuss the concept of
community to discuss the concept of escape and for a prosecutor I will tell
escape and for a prosecutor I will tell
escape and for a prosecutor I will tell you that the word escape makes me a
you that the word escape makes me a
you that the word escape makes me a little uneasy this story starts in Cuba
little uneasy this story starts in Cuba
little uneasy this story starts in Cuba and it starts after the 1959 revolution
and it starts after the 1959 revolution
and it starts after the 1959 revolution when Fidel Castro takes over the island
when Fidel Castro takes over the island
when Fidel Castro takes over the island and it starts at a place a psychiatric
and it starts at a place a psychiatric
and it starts at a place a psychiatric hospital named missoura psychiatric
hospital named missoura psychiatric
hospital named missoura psychiatric hospital on the outskirts of Havana on
hospital on the outskirts of Havana on
hospital on the outskirts of Havana on the outside visitors will go and they’ll
the outside visitors will go and they’ll
the outside visitors will go and they’ll say manicured lawns beautiful white
say manicured lawns beautiful white
say manicured lawns beautiful white walls pristine but on the inside Cubans
walls pristine but on the inside Cubans
walls pristine but on the inside Cubans in the island is special in the 1940s
in the island is special in the 1940s
in the island is special in the 1940s and 50s will tell you that they
and 50s will tell you that they
and 50s will tell you that they described it as Dante’s Inferno
described it as Dante’s Inferno
described it as Dante’s Inferno you see the name missoura
you see the name missoura
you see the name missoura alone stirs up feelings of dread and
alone stirs up feelings of dread and
alone stirs up feelings of dread and memories of antiquated psychiatric
memories of antiquated psychiatric
memories of antiquated psychiatric treatments on patients patients
treatments on patients patients
treatments on patients patients screaming in the middle of the night
screaming in the middle of the night
screaming in the middle of the night shackled to their beds naked hungry
shackled to their beds naked hungry
shackled to their beds naked hungry abandoned actually if you look up
abandoned actually if you look up
abandoned actually if you look up missoura hospital and you research it
missoura hospital and you research it
missoura hospital and you research it you will find images such as this one
you will find images such as this one
you will find images such as this one where patients are have said to have
where patients are have said to have
where patients are have said to have died because of the abandonment and the
died because of the abandonment and the
died because of the abandonment and the neglect and the hunger now after the
neglect and the hunger now after the
neglect and the hunger now after the Revolution missoura Hospital became part
Revolution missoura Hospital became part
Revolution missoura Hospital became part of the Cuban state like all institutions
of the Cuban state like all institutions
of the Cuban state like all institutions and it was part of the prison system and
and it was part of the prison system and
and it was part of the prison system and what they did is that they would use
what they did is that they would use
what they did is that they would use missoura hospital to imprison political
missoura hospital to imprison political
missoura hospital to imprison political prisoners and in Cuba a political
prisoners and in Cuba a political
prisoners and in Cuba a political prisoner
prisoner
prisoner can it can involve it a myriad of
can it can involve it a myriad of
can it can involve it a myriad of offenders it could be someone who wrote
offenders it could be someone who wrote
offenders it could be someone who wrote against the Castro regime it can be
against the Castro regime it can be
against the Castro regime it can be someone who evaded the draft or someone
someone who evaded the draft or someone
someone who evaded the draft or someone who got on the raft and tried to escape
who got on the raft and tried to escape
who got on the raft and tried to escape but got picked up and brought right back
but got picked up and brought right back
but got picked up and brought right back and they were sent to two specific
and they were sent to two specific
and they were sent to two specific Ward’s in Missouri and these wards were
Ward’s in Missouri and these wards were
Ward’s in Missouri and these wards were a series of tiny cells with iron bars
a series of tiny cells with iron bars
a series of tiny cells with iron bars dark no windows no furniture except for
dark no windows no furniture except for
dark no windows no furniture except for a metal framed bed some with a thin
a metal framed bed some with a thin
a metal framed bed some with a thin soiled mattress others with no mattress
soiled mattress others with no mattress
soiled mattress others with no mattress at all no toilets or any sanitary
at all no toilets or any sanitary
at all no toilets or any sanitary installations now there was somebody who
installations now there was somebody who
installations now there was somebody who was in charge of these prison wards at
was in charge of these prison wards at
was in charge of these prison wards at missoura a head nurse by the name of
missoura a head nurse by the name of
missoura a head nurse by the name of Eddie vertical meadows now maderos had
Eddie vertical meadows now maderos had
Eddie vertical meadows now maderos had one job and his job was to torture the
one job and his job was to torture the
one job and his job was to torture the political prisoners in Missouri and he
political prisoners in Missouri and he
political prisoners in Missouri and he did it by using an electric shock
did it by using an electric shock
did it by using an electric shock machine originally used to help patients
machine originally used to help patients
machine originally used to help patients with electro convulsive therapy but in
with electro convulsive therapy but in
with electro convulsive therapy but in this case he was using the electric
this case he was using the electric
this case he was using the electric shock machine for political tool to
shock machine for political tool to
shock machine for political tool to pressure to persuade to punish to
pressure to persuade to punish to
pressure to persuade to punish to reorient and when you see a lot of human
reorient and when you see a lot of human
reorient and when you see a lot of human rights reports about what happened at
rights reports about what happened at
rights reports about what happened at missoura under Medeiros is watch the
missoura under Medeiros is watch the
missoura under Medeiros is watch the stories from the inmates were all the
stories from the inmates were all the
stories from the inmates were all the same you’re arrested some for just some
same you’re arrested some for just some
same you’re arrested some for just some passive resistance against the
passive resistance against the
passive resistance against the government you’re brought to missoura
government you’re brought to missoura
government you’re brought to missoura thrown into these dirty bare cells there
thrown into these dirty bare cells there
thrown into these dirty bare cells there are no toilets as I said so to relieve
are no toilets as I said so to relieve
are no toilets as I said so to relieve yourself you had to do that on the
yourself you had to do that on the
yourself you had to do that on the concrete floors of your cells at times
concrete floors of your cells at times
concrete floors of your cells at times they would clean the cells by coming in
they would clean the cells by coming in
they would clean the cells by coming in either with a hose or with a bucket of
either with a hose or with a bucket of
either with a hose or with a bucket of water throwing the water into the cell
water throwing the water into the cell
water throwing the water into the cell and then having that dirty water with
and then having that dirty water with
and then having that dirty water with the urine and the feces stream down
the urine and the feces stream down
the urine and the feces stream down forming puddles on the hallway in front
forming puddles on the hallway in front
forming puddles on the hallway in front of the cells then a couple of days later
of the cells then a couple of days later
of the cells then a couple of days later maderos would come in he would be
maderos would come in he would be
maderos would come in he would be accompanied usually with two large
accompanied usually with two large
accompanied usually with two large inmates that were trusted and they would
inmates that were trusted and they would
inmates that were trusted and they would take a prisoner one
take a prisoner one
take a prisoner one and they would take him and hold them
and they would take him and hold them
and they would take him and hold them down into that puddle dirty water with
down into that puddle dirty water with
down into that puddle dirty water with the urine and maderos would take those
the urine and maderos would take those
the urine and maderos would take those electrodes fasten them onto their
electrodes fasten them onto their
electrodes fasten them onto their temples and then administer the shocks
temples and then administer the shocks
temples and then administer the shocks and as he administered those shocks
and as he administered those shocks
and as he administered those shocks there was no anesthesia no pain reliever
there was no anesthesia no pain reliever
there was no anesthesia no pain reliever no mouth protection these political
no mouth protection these political
no mouth protection these political prisoners would go into convulsions many
prisoners would go into convulsions many
prisoners would go into convulsions many of them biting deep into their tongues
of them biting deep into their tongues
of them biting deep into their tongues creating a bloody mess many of them went
creating a bloody mess many of them went
creating a bloody mess many of them went unconscious they lost control of their
unconscious they lost control of their
unconscious they lost control of their bladder and their bowels often they
bladder and their bowels often they
bladder and their bowels often they screamed in pain if you were lucky you
screamed in pain if you were lucky you
screamed in pain if you were lucky you only got electrocuted three times when
only got electrocuted three times when
only got electrocuted three times when you were there by Medeiros if you were
you were there by Medeiros if you were
you were there by Medeiros if you were not so lucky you would get electrocuted
not so lucky you would get electrocuted
not so lucky you would get electrocuted three times a week for up to three
three times a week for up to three
three times a week for up to three months
months
months all the while as these prisoners will
all the while as these prisoners will
all the while as these prisoners will tell you maderos smiling or laughing as
tell you maderos smiling or laughing as
tell you maderos smiling or laughing as he would do this and this went on for
he would do this and this went on for
he would do this and this went on for years and that 60s and 70s and now less
years and that 60s and 70s and now less
years and that 60s and 70s and now less let’s fast-forward to the 80s as you
let’s fast-forward to the 80s as you
let’s fast-forward to the 80s as you know from American history
know from American history
know from American history we had a migration accord with Cuba with
we had a migration accord with Cuba with
we had a migration accord with Cuba with the Mariel boatlift in 1980 and many
the Mariel boatlift in 1980 and many
the Mariel boatlift in 1980 and many came and for years after that in 1984
came and for years after that in 1984
came and for years after that in 1984 Medeiros came to the United States
Medeiros came to the United States
Medeiros came to the United States leaving behind his memories leaving
leaving behind his memories leaving
leaving behind his memories leaving behind what he had done escaping if he
behind what he had done escaping if he
behind what he had done escaping if he will any consequences for the actions
will any consequences for the actions
will any consequences for the actions that he had committed he came here
that he had committed he came here
that he had committed he came here without telling anybody who he really
without telling anybody who he really
without telling anybody who he really was without really saying what he had
was without really saying what he had
was without really saying what he had done and he applied to become a US
done and he applied to become a US
done and he applied to become a US citizen in 1992 and in 1993
citizen in 1992 and in 1993
citizen in 1992 and in 1993 maderos became a naturalized US citizen
maderos became a naturalized US citizen
maderos became a naturalized US citizen now just like he came so did other
now just like he came so did other
now just like he came so did other inmates and prisoners and other Cuban
inmates and prisoners and other Cuban
inmates and prisoners and other Cuban Americans that came over also trying to
Americans that came over also trying to
Americans that came over also trying to leave behind everything that they had
leave behind everything that they had
leave behind everything that they had seen the brutal dictatorship and one of
seen the brutal dictatorship and one of
seen the brutal dictatorship and one of those inmates former prisoners was a man
those inmates former prisoners was a man
those inmates former prisoners was a man named Eugenio de Sousa this also was a
named Eugenio de Sousa this also was a
named Eugenio de Sousa this also was a publisher for the Havana newspaper who
publisher for the Havana newspaper who
publisher for the Havana newspaper who had written against Castro and he
had written against Castro and he
had written against Castro and he because of that endured 21 years of
because of that endured 21 years of
because of that endured 21 years of prison and when de Sousa was 60 years
prison and when de Sousa was 60 years
prison and when de Sousa was 60 years old in 1977 he was taken to meet
old in 1977 he was taken to meet
old in 1977 he was taken to meet Medeiros
Medeiros
Medeiros and when he met Medeiros de sousa
and when he met Medeiros de sousa
and when he met Medeiros de sousa describes how maderos placed those
describes how maderos placed those
describes how maderos placed those electrodes on his temples four times and
electrodes on his temples four times and
electrodes on his temples four times and on his sexual organs in his testicles
on his sexual organs in his testicles
on his sexual organs in his testicles ten times when de Sousa after he was
ten times when de Sousa after he was
ten times when de Sousa after he was released was interviewed and asked about
released was interviewed and asked about
released was interviewed and asked about this experience he was quoted as saying
this experience he was quoted as saying
this experience he was quoted as saying you feel like an explosion in your head
you feel like an explosion in your head
you feel like an explosion in your head and you lose your consciousness now de
and you lose your consciousness now de
and you lose your consciousness now de sousa was released and luckily he also
sousa was released and luckily he also
sousa was released and luckily he also made it to Miami living a new life a new
made it to Miami living a new life a new
made it to Miami living a new life a new start beautiful family
start beautiful family
start beautiful family years went by trying to put that
years went by trying to put that
years went by trying to put that horrible chapter in his life behind him
horrible chapter in his life behind him
horrible chapter in his life behind him and in April of 1992 he paid his weekly
and in April of 1992 he paid his weekly
and in April of 1992 he paid his weekly visit to his elderly aunt who lived in a
visit to his elderly aunt who lived in a
visit to his elderly aunt who lived in a convalescent home in Hialeah Florida
convalescent home in Hialeah Florida
convalescent home in Hialeah Florida just 15 miles right from here and on
just 15 miles right from here and on
just 15 miles right from here and on that day which is usually a quiet family
that day which is usually a quiet family
that day which is usually a quiet family affair you can imagine the horror and
affair you can imagine the horror and
affair you can imagine the horror and the terror in Madero in-in-in de Sousa’s
the terror in Madero in-in-in de Sousa’s
the terror in Madero in-in-in de Sousa’s eyes when he sees Medeiros his torturer
eyes when he sees Medeiros his torturer
eyes when he sees Medeiros his torturer working in that same convalescent home
working in that same convalescent home
working in that same convalescent home and working as a nurse de Sousa
and working as a nurse de Sousa
and working as a nurse de Sousa confronts him maderos denies it takes
confronts him maderos denies it takes
confronts him maderos denies it takes off running at that point this also
off running at that point this also
off running at that point this also calls the FBI
calls the FBI
calls the FBI I had just thereafter started working as
I had just thereafter started working as
I had just thereafter started working as a young sort of experienced but not so
a young sort of experienced but not so
a young sort of experienced but not so much prosecutor of the US Attorney’s
much prosecutor of the US Attorney’s
much prosecutor of the US Attorney’s Office and I get assigned to the case
Office and I get assigned to the case
Office and I get assigned to the case and I get assigned to the case with a
and I get assigned to the case with a
and I get assigned to the case with a senior prosecutor by the name of Frank
senior prosecutor by the name of Frank
senior prosecutor by the name of Frank Taemin and together we start listening
Taemin and together we start listening
Taemin and together we start listening and hearing and that’s when I started
and hearing and that’s when I started
and hearing and that’s when I started learning about all the atrocities that
learning about all the atrocities that
learning about all the atrocities that had happened under maderos at Missouri
had happened under maderos at Missouri
had happened under maderos at Missouri Hospital and as the investigation broke
Hospital and as the investigation broke
Hospital and as the investigation broke so did too a lot of articles being
so did too a lot of articles being
so did too a lot of articles being written in the Miami Herald about the
written in the Miami Herald about the
written in the Miami Herald about the fact that the presence of this man was
fact that the presence of this man was
fact that the presence of this man was evoking such horrible memories here in
evoking such horrible memories here in
evoking such horrible memories here in South Florida and as the case continued
South Florida and as the case continued
South Florida and as the case continued victim started to some of them as you
victim started to some of them as you
victim started to some of them as you can understand reluctantly they didn’t
can understand reluctantly they didn’t
can understand reluctantly they didn’t want to relive this they didn’t want to
want to relive this they didn’t want to
want to relive this they didn’t want to have to go back and think about what had
have to go back and think about what had
have to go back and think about what had happened to them but they did some of
happened to them but they did some of
happened to them but they did some of them were very brave
them were very brave
them were very brave like Victor Hernandez who’s shown here
like Victor Hernandez who’s shown here
like Victor Hernandez who’s shown here and you can see the agony in his face
and you can see the agony in his face
and you can see the agony in his face when he is retelling the story of
when he is retelling the story of
when he is retelling the story of his brother Rene in the smaller picture
his brother Rene in the smaller picture
his brother Rene in the smaller picture died at the hand of maderos and as we
died at the hand of maderos and as we
died at the hand of maderos and as we kept getting all this information we
kept getting all this information we
kept getting all this information we started trying to build a case trying to
started trying to build a case trying to
started trying to build a case trying to figure out how do you charge someone for
figure out how do you charge someone for
figure out how do you charge someone for having committed these crimes not in the
having committed these crimes not in the
having committed these crimes not in the United States but in Cuba and we started
United States but in Cuba and we started
United States but in Cuba and we started looking and thought and looking and
looking and thought and looking and
looking and thought and looking and looking at all the evidence that we
looking at all the evidence that we
looking at all the evidence that we could that we can find and we came up
could that we can find and we came up
could that we can find and we came up with a theory even though we didn’t have
with a theory even though we didn’t have
with a theory even though we didn’t have many federal statutes about crimes being
many federal statutes about crimes being
many federal statutes about crimes being committed somewhere else
committed somewhere else
committed somewhere else we thought about charging Medeiros for
we thought about charging Medeiros for
we thought about charging Medeiros for having lied when he became a US citizen
having lied when he became a US citizen
having lied when he became a US citizen you see when you become a US citizen
you see when you become a US citizen
you see when you become a US citizen you have to swore it swear too many
you have to swore it swear too many
you have to swore it swear too many statements right and one of those two of
statements right and one of those two of
statements right and one of those two of those statements that Medeiros falsely
those statements that Medeiros falsely
those statements that Medeiros falsely swore to was one that he had no
swore to was one that he had no
swore to was one that he had no affiliation whatsoever any connection to
affiliation whatsoever any connection to
affiliation whatsoever any connection to the Communist Party which he did and
the Communist Party which he did and
the Communist Party which he did and second he falsely swore that he never
second he falsely swore that he never
second he falsely swore that he never persecuted anyone for their political
persecuted anyone for their political
persecuted anyone for their political opinions and then at that point we
opinions and then at that point we
opinions and then at that point we charged him and maderos was arrested in
charged him and maderos was arrested in
charged him and maderos was arrested in 2001 on this immigration theory and
2001 on this immigration theory and
2001 on this immigration theory and criminal charge and as we put the case
criminal charge and as we put the case
criminal charge and as we put the case together we went to trial now in trial
together we went to trial now in trial
together we went to trial now in trial on the prosecution side there was de
on the prosecution side there was de
on the prosecution side there was de Sousa’s daughter the victim who
Sousa’s daughter the victim who
Sousa’s daughter the victim who identified Madero si de sousa died
identified Madero si de sousa died
identified Madero si de sousa died before the trial commenced but this but
before the trial commenced but this but
before the trial commenced but this but his daughter was there to represent him
his daughter was there to represent him
his daughter was there to represent him so there were scores of Cuban Americans
so there were scores of Cuban Americans
so there were scores of Cuban Americans that have come to Miami and one of them
that have come to Miami and one of them
that have come to Miami and one of them being my mom you see I’m a first born
being my mom you see I’m a first born
being my mom you see I’m a first born Cuban American and to have my mom there
Cuban American and to have my mom there
Cuban American and to have my mom there for her it was once again like a lot of
for her it was once again like a lot of
for her it was once again like a lot of the Cuban Americans they were basically
the Cuban Americans they were basically
the Cuban Americans they were basically there to see that justice be done and to
there to see that justice be done and to
there to see that justice be done and to relive and remember and have everybody
relive and remember and have everybody
relive and remember and have everybody remember about the atrocities as to why
remember about the atrocities as to why
remember about the atrocities as to why they left and on the defensive side on
they left and on the defensive side on
they left and on the defensive side on Medeiros there was one person that went
Medeiros there was one person that went
Medeiros there was one person that went there every day just one his grandson a
there every day just one his grandson a
there every day just one his grandson a teenager someone who only knew him as a
teenager someone who only knew him as a
teenager someone who only knew him as a widow
widow
widow someone who there’s no way that that can
someone who there’s no way that that can
someone who there’s no way that that can be true ever all these horrible things
be true ever all these horrible things
be true ever all these horrible things that hurt I won’t tell me about my
that hurt I won’t tell me about my
that hurt I won’t tell me about my grandfather but he stood there every day
grandfather but he stood there every day
grandfather but he stood there every day and when the trial commenced victims
and when the trial commenced victims
and when the trial commenced victims came
came
came one after another talking about how
one after another talking about how
one after another talking about how their mouths were foam after Medeiros
their mouths were foam after Medeiros
their mouths were foam after Medeiros has tortured them how their skin by
has tortured them how their skin by
has tortured them how their skin by their temples were burning from this
their temples were burning from this
their temples were burning from this torture some of them asking Medeiros why
torture some of them asking Medeiros why
torture some of them asking Medeiros why are you doing this to me and maderos
are you doing this to me and maderos
are you doing this to me and maderos responding as he’s electrocuting them
responding as he’s electrocuting them
responding as he’s electrocuting them because you’re against the revolution
because you’re against the revolution
because you’re against the revolution and i can kill you and no one will do
and i can kill you and no one will do
and i can kill you and no one will do anything to me
anything to me
anything to me one victim the only female victim that
one victim the only female victim that
one victim the only female victim that testified told the jury how she was
testified told the jury how she was
testified told the jury how she was dragged by her hair by maderos and then
dragged by her hair by maderos and then
dragged by her hair by maderos and then injected with insulin three times a day
injected with insulin three times a day
injected with insulin three times a day to lower her sugar levels almost to a
to lower her sugar levels almost to a
to lower her sugar levels almost to a state of a coma and then Medeiros would
state of a coma and then Medeiros would
state of a coma and then Medeiros would have her and force her to drink 10 to 12
have her and force her to drink 10 to 12
have her and force her to drink 10 to 12 glasses of sugar water to get those
glasses of sugar water to get those
glasses of sugar water to get those levels back up bringing her in and out
levels back up bringing her in and out
levels back up bringing her in and out of consciousness and there was one
of consciousness and there was one
of consciousness and there was one witness that I will never forget it was
witness that I will never forget it was
witness that I will never forget it was a man who was 40 years old when he
a man who was 40 years old when he
a man who was 40 years old when he testified but he was 15 when he was
testified but he was 15 when he was
testified but he was 15 when he was tortured by Medeiros a 15 year old who
tortured by Medeiros a 15 year old who
tortured by Medeiros a 15 year old who was in prison because he was
was in prison because he was
was in prison because he was distributing propaganda doing graffiti
distributing propaganda doing graffiti
distributing propaganda doing graffiti against Castro’s regime but then taken
against Castro’s regime but then taken
against Castro’s regime but then taken to see Medeiros when I was preparing him
to see Medeiros when I was preparing him
to see Medeiros when I was preparing him for trial he kept telling me yes mr.
for trial he kept telling me yes mr.
for trial he kept telling me yes mr. Ferrer
Ferrer
Ferrer he electrocuted me but I got him good I
he electrocuted me but I got him good I
he electrocuted me but I got him good I punched him I kicked him he hurt as well
punched him I kicked him he hurt as well
punched him I kicked him he hurt as well and I kept saying listen I understand
and I kept saying listen I understand
and I kept saying listen I understand but this is not about what you did to
but this is not about what you did to
but this is not about what you did to him this trials about what he did to you
him this trials about what he did to you
him this trials about what he did to you he said yeah I got it I got it so we go
he said yeah I got it I got it so we go
he said yeah I got it I got it so we go to trial he gets on the stand and I
to trial he gets on the stand and I
to trial he gets on the stand and I asked him the same questions and he does
asked him the same questions and he does
asked him the same questions and he does exactly the same thing yes he
exactly the same thing yes he
exactly the same thing yes he electrocuted me yes he forced me to take
electrocuted me yes he forced me to take
electrocuted me yes he forced me to take these psychopathic drugs that I did not
these psychopathic drugs that I did not
these psychopathic drugs that I did not need but met I really got him he did not
need but met I really got him he did not
need but met I really got him he did not break me I hurt him as well
break me I hurt him as well
break me I hurt him as well I sat down at that point the defense
I sat down at that point the defense
I sat down at that point the defense attorney gets up and he tries to find an
attorney gets up and he tries to find an
attorney gets up and he tries to find an inconsistency in in his story now we had
inconsistency in in his story now we had
inconsistency in in his story now we had no pictures remember this happened in
no pictures remember this happened in
no pictures remember this happened in Cuba 25 years earlier so the defense
Cuba 25 years earlier so the defense
Cuba 25 years earlier so the defense attorney thought that by doing something
attorney thought that by doing something
attorney thought that by doing something clever that he would get him to trip up
clever that he would get him to trip up
clever that he would get him to trip up and he put up this board a rough
and he put up this board a rough
and he put up this board a rough schematic diagram of the inside of the
schematic diagram of the inside of the
schematic diagram of the inside of the missoura hospital showing where the
missoura hospital showing where the
missoura hospital showing where the cells would have been where the hallway
cells would have been where the hallway
cells would have been where the hallway was and the
was and the
was and the and this witness is 40 year old with
and this witness is 40 year old with
and this witness is 40 year old with that tough exterior takes a look at that
that tough exterior takes a look at that
that tough exterior takes a look at that it’s the first time he had ever seen a
it’s the first time he had ever seen a
it’s the first time he had ever seen a depiction of what he had gone through
depiction of what he had gone through
depiction of what he had gone through when he was 15 years old he stopped he
when he was 15 years old he stopped he
when he was 15 years old he stopped he was he just he couldn’t even hardly
was he just he couldn’t even hardly
was he just he couldn’t even hardly speak and this 40 year old man before
speak and this 40 year old man before
speak and this 40 year old man before our eyes transformed back to that 15
our eyes transformed back to that 15
our eyes transformed back to that 15 year old crime sobbing there was not a
year old crime sobbing there was not a
year old crime sobbing there was not a dry eye in the courtroom especially mine
dry eye in the courtroom especially mine
dry eye in the courtroom especially mine and some of the jurors and through his
and some of the jurors and through his
and some of the jurors and through his tears he told the jury how this man had
tears he told the jury how this man had
tears he told the jury how this man had hurt him how afraid he was as a 15 year
hurt him how afraid he was as a 15 year
hurt him how afraid he was as a 15 year old going through this not understanding
old going through this not understanding
old going through this not understanding why this was happening to him but then
why this was happening to him but then
why this was happening to him but then he told materials in the middle of that
he told materials in the middle of that
he told materials in the middle of that trial through his tears you’re not in
trial through his tears you’re not in
trial through his tears you’re not in control anymore I am and I’m gonna tell
control anymore I am and I’m gonna tell
control anymore I am and I’m gonna tell the world what you did to me and I’m
the world what you did to me and I’m
the world what you did to me and I’m doing it now and after three weeks of
doing it now and after three weeks of
doing it now and after three weeks of trial
trial
trial maderos was convicted by the jury this
maderos was convicted by the jury this
maderos was convicted by the jury this was the first conviction ever for
was the first conviction ever for
was the first conviction ever for someone having committed human rights
someone having committed human rights
someone having committed human rights abuses outside the United States since
abuses outside the United States since
abuses outside the United States since World War two
World War two
World War two and I will tell you that as a
and I will tell you that as a
and I will tell you that as a cuban-american this conviction in this
cuban-american this conviction in this
cuban-american this conviction in this experience reinforced all the reasons as
experience reinforced all the reasons as
experience reinforced all the reasons as to why I got into the law and become a
to why I got into the law and become a
to why I got into the law and become a public servant because when my parents
public servant because when my parents
public servant because when my parents emigrated to this country they told my
emigrated to this country they told my
emigrated to this country they told my brother and me that we were not to sit
brother and me that we were not to sit
brother and me that we were not to sit on the sidelines but to get involved and
on the sidelines but to get involved and
on the sidelines but to get involved and having my mom there was such an amazing
having my mom there was such an amazing
having my mom there was such an amazing moment because I will never forget being
moment because I will never forget being
moment because I will never forget being part of a case as a team where we sent
part of a case as a team where we sent
part of a case as a team where we sent to prison someone who represented every
to prison someone who represented every
to prison someone who represented every reason as to why a lot of the Cuban
reason as to why a lot of the Cuban
reason as to why a lot of the Cuban Americans left the brutal dictatorship
Americans left the brutal dictatorship
Americans left the brutal dictatorship but I saw something I’m also very
but I saw something I’m also very
but I saw something I’m also very remarkable after the trial the victim’s
remarkable after the trial the victim’s
remarkable after the trial the victim’s daughter the Sosa’s daughter got up and
daughter the Sosa’s daughter got up and
daughter the Sosa’s daughter got up and went to the grandson the boy who was
went to the grandson the boy who was
went to the grandson the boy who was sitting there shocked dumbfounded that
sitting there shocked dumbfounded that
sitting there shocked dumbfounded that his grandfather was found guilty
his grandfather was found guilty
his grandfather was found guilty and she hugged him and she told them
and she hugged him and she told them
and she hugged him and she told them this is not your fault you’re gonna be
this is not your fault you’re gonna be
this is not your fault you’re gonna be okay
okay
okay so I’ve learned a lot of lessons in this
so I’ve learned a lot of lessons in this
so I’ve learned a lot of lessons in this experience I learned that you can’t
experience I learned that you can’t
experience I learned that you can’t escape justice it will catch up with you
escape justice it will catch up with you
escape justice it will catch up with you and you can’t escape the sins of your
and you can’t escape the sins of your
and you can’t escape the sins of your past it will catch up to you one way or
past it will catch up to you one way or
past it will catch up to you one way or another may not be today may not be
another may not be today may not be
another may not be today may not be tomorrow may not be in 20 years for
tomorrow may not be in 20 years for
tomorrow may not be in 20 years for maderos it was 25 years later after what
maderos it was 25 years later after what
maderos it was 25 years later after what he had done and weeks before his final
he had done and weeks before his final
he had done and weeks before his final days you see I did not know during the
days you see I did not know during the
days you see I did not know during the whole trial that he was sick and he lost
whole trial that he was sick and he lost
whole trial that he was sick and he lost the will to live so when he was sent to
the will to live so when he was sent to
the will to live so when he was sent to prison he actually died in a hospital
prison he actually died in a hospital
prison he actually died in a hospital ironically in a very similar setting
ironically in a very similar setting
ironically in a very similar setting that his victims had to endure when they
that his victims had to endure when they
that his victims had to endure when they were hurt by him
were hurt by him
were hurt by him I also learned from this experience that
I also learned from this experience that
I also learned from this experience that you can’t run away from the pain and
you can’t run away from the pain and
you can’t run away from the pain and suffering of your past memories I
suffering of your past memories I
suffering of your past memories I realized from working with these victims
realized from working with these victims
realized from working with these victims in these witnesses that our experiences
in these witnesses that our experiences
in these witnesses that our experiences make us who we are good or bad and that
make us who we are good or bad and that
make us who we are good or bad and that there is a real value a real value to
there is a real value a real value to
there is a real value a real value to coping and accepting and dealing and
coping and accepting and dealing and
coping and accepting and dealing and that you can’t even erase it by even
that you can’t even erase it by even
that you can’t even erase it by even going to another country learning
going to another country learning
going to another country learning another language in another culture and
another language in another culture and
another language in another culture and sometimes you can’t even evade something
sometimes you can’t even evade something
sometimes you can’t even evade something that had nothing to do with you
that had nothing to do with you
that had nothing to do with you like the grandson these courageous
like the grandson these courageous
like the grandson these courageous victims showed me that by dealing
victims showed me that by dealing
victims showed me that by dealing head-on with their memories and their
head-on with their memories and their
head-on with their memories and their experiences they were able to take a a
experiences they were able to take a a
experiences they were able to take a a mastery of their past and they were able
mastery of their past and they were able
mastery of their past and they were able to revisit what had happened to them
to revisit what had happened to them
to revisit what had happened to them from a position of strength and courage
from a position of strength and courage
from a position of strength and courage telling everyone that they were
telling everyone that they were
telling everyone that they were survivors and telling everyone that they
survivors and telling everyone that they
survivors and telling everyone that they were not ashamed to be in a fight that
were not ashamed to be in a fight that
were not ashamed to be in a fight that was so unfair so at the end what I
was so unfair so at the end what I
was so unfair so at the end what I learned is that sometimes confronting
learned is that sometimes confronting
learned is that sometimes confronting your memories and not escaping could be
your memories and not escaping could be
your memories and not escaping could be an incredibly powerful and
an incredibly powerful and
an incredibly powerful and transformative experience
you
you [Music]
”
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