HispanicBusiness

MIAMI, April 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The following letter was issued today by Scott W. Leeds and was addressed to President George W. Bush:

April 15, 2004 President George W. Bush The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President:

I am writing to you regarding the Celebra Libertad! event unanimously designated by the City of Miami as the City's event for Cuban Independence Day. This firm is presenting the famous Russian Antonov-2 Colt airplane that brought Nemecio Alonso Guerra and family from Cuba to the United States as a monument to freedom for this community and the nation. This firm has had a long standing commitment to this community, and are only one of two known law firms to have obtained over one hundred million dollars in judgments against the Republic of Cuba.

Date: May 19, 2004 Time: 6:00 PM Location: Elizabeth Virrick Hangar 2600 South Bayshore Drive Coconut Grove, Florida

You are cordially invited to join the members of Leeds, Colby, Paris, Spence, Hoffman and Valori, P.A. and the City of Miami in this memorable and historic night as we celebrate a symbol of the exilio de Cuba into our country in search of freedom. Guests will include members of the press, representatives of the City of Miami, Metro-Dade County, Cuban-American Organizations and special guests through exclusive invitations only. You will be receiving our invitation in the mail shortly, and wanted to notify you of our event with as much anticipation as possible. I apologize for not having notified you earlier, but this event has become a movement in this community that cannot be ignored.

This monument and this event is the first of its kind for many reasons. First, the airplane will be recreated by the inspiration of celebrated and renowned Cuban artist, Xavier Cortada (http://www.cortada.com/ for more information on this artist), who has exhibited in both the White House and the Florida Supreme Court. The redesigned Monument to Freedom will include Mr. Cortada's painting of the airplane in his compelling style, as well as the painting of 45 pieces of luggage numbered sequentially from 1959 to 2004, representing each year the Cuban community has been in exile. I am planning to unveil the work of art on the eve of Cuban Independence Day, May 19, 2004, during our Celebra Libertad! event.

This event is special for a more intimate reason. The work of art will include the personal experiences of the Cuban exile community which shall be solicited through radio and television, where each luggage will contain their individual responses to the following questions: "What did you leave?" and, "What did you find when you arrived?" Each entry will be placed in the luggage corresponding the year the individual arrived to the United States of America to begin their celebration of freedom. These entries, the voices of an entire community's struggle for democracy and human rights, I hope will ultimately reside as a collective work of art at the Smithsonian Institution.

I sincerely believe that this Cuban monument to freedom represents a universal message so desperately needed to be retold during these dark times, and serves to advance the knowledge and contributions of the Cuban community in the United States. Moreover, in light of the outcome in Geneva today, I am sure this movement will precipitate a marvelous outcome for this event as well as this community.

I would be honored to have you attend and assist in my efforts to unite this community in unveiling this unique monument. I look forward to hearing from you.

Very truly yours, Scott W. Leeds Scott W. Leeds, Esquire Leeds, Colby, Paris, Spence, Hoffman & Valori, P.A. 2950 Southwest 27th Avenue Suite #300 Miami, Florida 33133 Phone: 305-567-1200 Facsimile: 305-443-6102 Email: info@leedsandcolby.comScott W. Leeds

CONTACT: Scott W. Leeds, Esquire, of Leeds, Colby, Paris, Spence,Hoffman & Valori, +1-305-567-1200, or fax, 305-443-6102, orinfo@leedsandcolby.com

Web site: http://www.leedsandcolby.com/