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Cuban refugees at Newark Airport, 1962.
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- speakerSince the Castro revolution in Cuba has become communist, more and more Cubans have left that
- speakerisland republic. Beginning in 1960, the exodus became general, and currently about
- speaker2000 Cubans are leaving their country each week. In general the refugees are
- speakerwell, highly and very highly educated. About one third come from the
- speakerprofessional, semiprofessional or managerial classes. Another third come from
- speakerclerical, sales, and service occupations, and one third are skilled,
- speakersemi-skilled or unskilled workers. They have had to leave with virtually no money and are
- speakerliterally destitute upon arrival. Most center in the Miami area where older
- speakerCuban residents have tried to assist. A proud and dignified people, Cubans seek
- speakerpublic assistance only as a last resort, returning cash assistance in
- speakersubstantial amounts as soon as they become self-supporting. There are problems also.
- speakerFirst there is the ancient all inclusive problem of intercultural adjustment.
- speakerSecond they are troubled over their leaving Cuba. They worry over relatives left
- speakerbehind. There is also the question of whether it is disloyal to Cuba to become
- speakerAmericanized. The situation in Miami is not good because of the influx of
- speakerthese people for the community and for the refugees. The Indispensable
- speakersolution therefore is relocation to other parts of the country. Essential in
- speakerresettlement is a job, hopefully a job in line with the skill of the worker.
- speakerSeveral areas in the nation have recognized this need and are scheduled to receive flights in
- speakerfreedom. The first went to Cleveland. The fourth landed at Newark Airport
- speakerthis past week under the sponsorship of the Synod of New Jersey of the United
- speakerPresbyterian Church USA. The Synod has undertaken to assist
- speakerthese refugees with the problems of resettlement in the area. Good News Report was on the
- speakerscene when the plane arrived. Here now is a firsthand account of what happened at
- speakerNewark this week.
- speakerWe have here Mr. William L. Phelps, a member of the Cuban Refugee Resettlement
- speakerCommittee. Mr. Phelps What's the reason for all this activity here in Second Church Newark?
- speakerWell the reason for it is in preparation for the reception of
- speaker25 or 26 families, about 86 individuals, that are
- speakercoming on a plane from Miami and are being resettled by
- speakerthe churches of the Synod of New Jersey. And there will be a reception
- speakerhere. And, the various churches receiving these people will
- speakercome here and get them and take them to their homes that have been
- speakerprepared for them.
- speakerWe have here the Reverend John H Murray, Associate Synod Executive of the
- speakerSynod of New Jersey. Mr. Murray could you tell us what the impact will be at
- speakerthe resettlement of the Cuban refugees upon the metropolitan area of New
- speakerJersey? We
- speakerare pleased with the reception given these
- speakerpeople from Cuba by the local Presbyterian
- speakerchurches. If this is any indication, then I'm sure that the
- speakerimpact will be a favorable one throughout the whole northern part of New Jersey.
- speakerMr. L. P. Stringer, the mayor of the city of Dover New Jersey.
- speakerMr. Mayor, can you tell us how your community has contributed to the
- speakersolution of the problem of these refugees? Our
- speakermain contribution was that we had work of the type that they
- speakerwere used to already in our community. Also our housing
- speakersituation was such that these people were scattered all over the
- speakertown rather than in one concentrated area. So that basically
- speakerall we had to do was provide housing,, provide recreation
- speakerand then we turned them over to the various churches, who have done a fine
- speakerjob for us.
- speakerWe have here the Reverend Armando Divas [Divas, L. Armando], assistant pastor of the Dover
- speakerPresbyterian Church. Mando, Can you tell us how the churches of Dover have
- speakerhelped in this problem? The way that the churches that are helping is to set up a committee by the
- speakersession and then this committee takes responsibility in resettling
- speakerthe family, finding the home, and the
- speakerjob opportunity. We have also publicized what the churches are
- speakerdoing. And, the papers and the whole community have helped tremendously in this affair. The
- speakerReverend Erasmo Reina [Reina, J. Erasmo], Spanish speaking pastor of Second
- speakerPresbyterian Church of Newark. Pastor Reina, Can you tell us if these
- speakerrefugees coming today will have any difficulties getting settled and
- speakerbecoming happy and productive people of the state of New Jersey? I
- speakeram sure we have some trouble with this people especially for the language.
- speakerSome acculture. But I sure in the future
- speakerwe can find some four day because of the American people who has a good disposition
- speakerto help all these people coming from Miami right now Here at plane-side
- speakeris Miss Carmen Arrias awaiting the arrival of her refugee
- speakerparents. I am so excited. I
- speakerhaven't seen my father for eight year and a half. And, how long has it been since you've seen your
- speakermother? I saw her last October. Aren't you anxious to look at the doorway and
- speakersee if you spot them? Yes. Mr. Sosa, How
- speakerwas your trip with the? It was a wonderful trip. Everybody in the plane was so very
- speakernice, so very kind, with everybody that came in play. How many families did you bring up with you
- speakerin this? We brought 25 family. Every family seems to be very
- speakerhappy to be, very grateful to our Presbyterian church for what the church has been
- speakerdoing for the refugees. Here are some reactions from the embarking
- speakerrefugees themselves.
- speakerCould you tell us how you feel here in New Jersey? Well, we are really very very happy because I think we
- speakerwill have to settle here, I don't think we can go back to Cuba again.
- speakerWhat is your name please? Mrs. King Coles. First time you have been in New Jersey? No, it is the second
- speakertime. I came here for my honeymoon.
- speakerNow can you tell us how you feel arriving here. We feel very well and welcome. you know, we are not
- speakerwe have no fear
- speakerof the cold. Where will you be settling? Patterson. What kind
- speakerof a trip did you have?
- speaker[Spanish]
- speakerWay were. Very, very nice to him. The Rev. Nicholas J. Berggraf,
- speakerthe moderator of the Synod of New Jersey. Reverend Berggraf, What is the concern
- speakerof the Synod of New Jersey with the Cuban refugee problem?
- speakerThe Synod of New Jersey has a very special interest in the Cuban refugee problem
- speakerbecause Cuba is a part of the Synod of New Jersey.
- speakerIn Cuba we have 96 churches, Sunday
- speakerschools and chapels, making up a large number of
- speakerCuban Presbyterians. And it is for this that we have a special interest
- speakerin the Cuban refugee problem. And, we are pleased to bring so many of them
- speakerinto our communities and into our churches.
- speakerWe have here the Reverend Dr. Eugene Carson Blake, Stated Clerk of the United
- speakerPresbyterian Church in the USA. Dr. Blake, What relationship is there
- speakerbetween this resettlement of Cuban refugees and the refugee problem
- speakeracross the world?
- speakerThis is a part of the refugee problem of the whole world.
- speakerRefugees are caused normally by a
- speakerpolitical revolution of one sort or another.
- speakerThe churches aren't particularly interested in either side of the revolution when they are
- speakermeeting the needs of refugees. Actually this is a
- speakerdifferent situation from anything we've handled before in the United States. In
- speakerthat this Cuban refugee group, who are being moved from Miami here
- speakertoday to New Jersey is an illustration of moving from the place of
- speakerfirst asylum to second. And we're very happy to
- speakertry, in the name of Jesus Christ, to settle these people who have had to
- speakerleave their
- speakerhomeland.
