30 Years After the Brothers to the Rescue Shootdown, Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez Stands for Justice and Remembrance

This week, Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez stood with the community at a solemn vigil marking the 30th anniversary of the murder of the four Brothers to the Rescue heroes in 1996. The gathering honored Armando Alejandre Jr., Carlos Costa, Mario de la Peña, and Pablo Morales — humanitarian volunteers whose unarmed planes were shot down over international waters by the Cuban dictatorship.

The vigil served as a powerful reminder that justice has no expiration date. Community members, families of the victims, and leaders from across South Florida came together not only to remember the lives lost, but to reaffirm a shared commitment to truth, accountability, and freedom. For Miami-Dade County — home to one of the largest Cuban exile communities in the world — the anniversary is deeply personal.

“Thirty years later, we must do more than remember — we must act,” Fernandez said. “We must teach the next generation the truth, demand accountability for those responsible, and honor these brave men by refusing to let this crime be forgotten. Justice cannot expire with time.”

Fernandez emphasized that as Miami-Dade County Tax Collector, he will always stand firmly with the Cuban exile community and with all those who fight for liberty. The attack, widely described as an act of terror, devastated families and scarred an entire community, leaving a legacy that continues to shape the conscience of South Florida.

Three decades later, the memory of the four Brothers to the Rescue heroes remains a symbol of courage and sacrifice. Their mission — flying in defense of life and freedom — endures as a call to vigilance and as a reminder that the pursuit of justice continues.