Look who’s picking up the slack — because our so-called leaders won’t.
The Keep Them Honest campaign — yes, the same one that plastered billboards all over Miami calling out local politicians for looking the other way while the Donald Trump administration rips families apart in his drive to deport immigrants — is back at it. And this time, they’ve brought some serious Miami muscle.
Four of the city’s most respected civic voices — Dr. Eduardo Padrón, Leticia Callava, David Lawrence Jr., and Michael 
Putney — are joining forces in a new campaign called “Four Voices, One Miami.”
The message? That looking the other way while families are torn apart isn’t leadership — it’s complicity.
“Silence in the face of this injustice is not an option,” said Chris Wills, the former co-founder of Cubanos Con Biden and vice president of Keep Them Honest, Inc.
It’s a direct shot across the bow at the cowardly immigration politics that have infected South Florida since Trump took office — the raids, the detentions, the cruel enforcement tactics that tear apart families who’ve done nothing wrong except try to build a life here.
Read related: Video blasts U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez for silence on ending TPS, deportations
And who better to deliver that message than these four Miami icons, all of them retired, independent, and — most importantly — unbought.
- Dr. Eduardo Padrón, the longtime Miami Dade College president who turned that institution into the Ellis Island of higher education, reminds us that due process is “the foundation of American justice.”
- Leticia Callava, the Cuban-born TV journalist who spent decades behind the news desk, says she came to this country seeking freedom — and now feels a moral obligation to defend it for others.
- David Lawrence Jr., former publisher of The Miami Herald and founder of The Children’s Trust, says it’s about the Constitution and basic humanity — something our lawmakers seem to misplace every election season.
- And Michael Putney, Miami’s political conscience for decades on Channel 10, doesn’t mince words: “Silence is not leadership.”
Ouch. You know exactly who that’s aimed at.
“I’m troubled by the silence of our own members of Congress,” Putney says in his 30-second spot. “While President Trump’s 
policies spread fear, our representatives look the other way. They know these families, hard working neighbors who play by the rules.
“We deserve leaders who defend our values,” added Putney, one of the most trusted voices in our community. “It’s time to stand up for our neighbors because standing with them, is standing up for America.”
Lawrence, whose father’s family came from Ireland fleeing the potato famine, says in his spot that he believes in secure borders. “But every person deserves humane treatment and due process. That’s not politics. That’s the constitution,” Lawrence said.
Wills said Lawrence “understands the impact that ripping families apart and ripping children from their mothers is having on this country.”
In a telephone press conference, Callava said they don’t want much. “What we’re asking is not to throw open the doors for everyone, but for more human treatment of the people who are already here,” she said. “They are looking for guidance, for support. They don’t have a place to go to.”
She said that she felt supported and welcome when she came from Cuba as a child. “Where did that support go? Because one man went to the White House and sowed fear and hate in the country?” She compared him to Mt. Vesuvius. “Let’s stop the crazy.”
The campaign will roll out this week with broadcast and digital ads, social media, and those big bold billboards that have become Keep Them Honest’s signature move. Remember the ones that made some of our legislators choke on their cortaditos last time?
Read related: Campaign ramps up vs Miami’s Cuban, Republican congressional delegation
Back then, the group went after the hypocrisy and lack of representation from our congress members with billboards that called the cruel and traitors and a video that asked where Congressman Carlos Gimenez was hiding. This round, they’re tackling 
something even deeper — what kind of community Miami wants to be.
Because let’s face it: for a city built by immigrants, we’ve sure become comfortable watching them be demonized. It’s like Miami’s collective amnesia — forgetting that everybody here came from somewhere else, even if your abuela landed in 1960 or your tonton crossed in the ’80s.
The “Four Voices, One Miami” campaign wants to remind us of that. And to remind politicians that courage and compassion shouldn’t be partisan.
Ladra gives it two paws up — mostly because it’s nice to see someone, anyone, speak up while the electeds keep hiding behind talking points and polls.
And if a few of those new billboards happen to pop up near some of the usual suspects’ districts? Well… that’s just a happy coincidence.
You can support more independent, watchdog government reporting of our local government and campaigns with a contribution to Political Cortadito. Click here. Ladra thanks you for your support.
Miami icons step up where politicians won’t to denounce ICE raids, tactics added by Ladra on
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This nightmare will only end when the Cuban Adjustment Act is repealed and retroactively the special rights removed for preferential groups who will be deported.
As all those Americans who had to leave South Florida decades ago warned, these people who are now in the Federal government and directing Latin American policy as well as immigration and other parts of government are destroying this country just like they turned Miami into another Latin American cesspool of corruption and urban decay. Just look at Big Sugar. Or Medicare Advantage. All Cuban-“american” conspiracies. Wake up before you lose this country.
”Also, let’s be clear that if the POTUS whenever any of us that came back in 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s ”
I know this sounds like I am kicking myself in the culo and will not be the first time but to the credit the Cubans who came in 50’s to 70’s they are in a different league then Cubans who came when I came which was after .
Does not have anything to do with politics because REGARDLESS of when we came most are Republican but if you had a business what mentality do you want the Cubans who came here 50s to 70’s or let’s say after 90’s ?
I am not saying to anyone here who came after the ” first ” Cubans we do not have concept of time nor care , not responsible because I am not so know plenty are so do not take it to heart if you came after as I did not but let us not be blind .
I interact with all groups and that group to their credit are to be respected just a shame they vote for politicians who they would have fired immediately if an employee .
Carlos Gimenez and Marco Rubio and Rick Scott and Francis Suarez are Trump Cult members. They support the lowlifes hired by ICE grabbing citizens and hauling them away in unmarked vehicles and then flown to foreign countries. Emilio Gonzalez is endorsed by these creeps as he runs to be Miami’s next MAGA Mayor.
I applaud these individuals for stepping up to speak in favor of the immigrant community. After all, Padron and Cavalla were born in Cuba and like 99% of us Cubans that came here were given a carte Blanche to enter this country, thanks to the Cold War conflict, and Democratic presidents governing at the time, i.e. Johnson, Carter, Clinton, Biden, otherwise most of us wouldn’t have been able to come “legally”. We would have, just like immigrants from any other country, come and overstay your tourist visa, or simply cross the Rio Grande.
Also, let’s be clear that if the POTUS whenever any of us that came back in 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s would have been Donald Trump, we all would’ve been rejected and if here illegally, we would have been all expelled by ICE thugs.
Remember that under Project 2025, Donald Trump, Stephen Miller, Steve Bannon mind frame, we are not white. We are brown Hispanics, from a shit whole country.
We are not white South Africans that are been welcomed, so let’s thank all these individuals for speaking up for all of us. 🇺🇸
Gustavo Chacon,
There are only two ways to do things correctly or incorrectly . So far we agree .
When ICE hit Doral which I actually saw in area I live in they were professional , knew what they were doing , not over kill , not targeting any look .
They were the ” old ” ICE which looked to be well trained and I have no idea how they knew who was who but not a single Citizen that I know of was bothered . This was about 2 to 3 months if that long after Trump elected .
Now IMO they are out of control thugs and a danger to Citizens but I imagine on this we disagree .
I SUPPORT ICE RAIDS and Any Form Of Way To Solve What The Democrats Created , an ILLEGAL War in Our Southern Border ! We Have The Law Enforce It !
Sadly, when looking and searching deep for the major contributors to the moral decay that has occurred in our society and county for many decades now, we must seriously admit that journalism and broadcasting played an increasingly overpowering shadow while taking away, from an increasingly dumbed down public, the option of mandating good governance by being able to access information that derived from quality reporting and truthful outing of those who increasingly sought it unriskable to corner the market of ideas and thus the coffers for their own interests.
The four individuals mentioned here; Three from the world of journalism and one from education are known to me as having had specific conversations with them as regards to many problems upon which they sought to build their careers and not take a risk in outing unethical and even illegal behavior by those with whom they associated.
I have no respect for any of these four persons.
Evan ,
The only good things I like about Trump was his ” sealing ” border and deportations trust me living in Doral this was a God send but ICE has become a bunch of thugs who target ” Hispanic looking ” and the monster problem is more and more they are harassing / arresting are Citizens .
This is why they have lost a lot of support and the law suits now are through the roof and let me add only a punk azz coward abuses an elderly person which has become ICE’s calling card .
One of countless —
” 79-year-old US citizen claims ICE agents body-slammed him at his business, seeks $50M
”
https://abcnews.go.com/US/79-year-us-citizen-claims-ice-agents-body/story?id=125978834
1. Illegal aliens commit a crime by immigrating illegally. That is not an acceptable start for becoming an American.
2. Where was your request for due process when these illegal aliens were admitted under the open-doors policy of the Obama-Biden 3.0 administration?
3. Cubanos Con Biden? Really? Come on, man! They are losers and should go back to Cuba, because they are really “Cubanos Con Diaz-Canel”!
What about the constitutionally guaranteed due process? Masked ICE members storm an apartment without providing any identification and grab folks they “believe” are here illegally and just take them away without allowing the victim to present his or her claim. This, of course, has led to many American citizens being taken into custody only to be released after several days locked up and treated worse than a dog due to a “mistake”. STOP ALL THESE DISTRACTIONS AND RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES!!!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 tales from the crypt! Se levantaron los viejos!
Well, said, Ladra!
Dr Marvin Dunn is another hero. He is fighting to force Miami Dade College and it’s pathetic President and board to have a public hearing with public testimony over its scam to give a $100 Million piece of land to Donald Trump to his family and friends like Gil Dezer.
Where’s Mike Fernandez in all of this?
It’s surprising to see that you seem to support illegal immigration. The fact that you hate President Trump doesn’t exempt you and everyone from following the law. ICE is deporting illegal immigrant because that’s what the law requires. Most of these immigrants have a rap sheet longer than anyone’s résumé. So… you can call our duly elected representatives in Congress and elsewhere “traitors” but doesn’t hide the fact that you support illegal immigrants. Let the record reflect that.
Evan, honey, calm down. You’re going to have an aneurism.
And if you are living under a rock, maybe you don’t know that a lot of the “illegal immigrants” being rounded up and deported were legally here until their status was changed in an instant. Trump created more “illegal immigrants” in his rush to deport as many mostly Hispanics as he can. A whopping majority, around 80%, have been found to have zero criminal history here or in their home country. What happened to “the worst of the worst.” Some housekeeper with three kids fits that bill? Your hatred is showing.
Also, what I defend is due process and humane treatment. You don’t have to sacrifice that.
Love, Ladra