Operation Peter Pan

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Operation Peter Pan (Operación Pedro Pan), was an operation coordinated by the United States government, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami, and Cuban exiles. Between 1960 and 1962, over 14,000 children were sent from Cuba to Miami by their parents. The operation was designed to transport the children of parents who opposed the Communist government, and was later expanded to include children of parents concerned by rumors that their children would be shipped to Soviet work camps.^[1] With the help of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami and Monsignor Bryan O. Walsh, the children were placed with friends, relatives and group homes in 35 states.^[2]

1 Controversy
2 Aftermath
3 Culture
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Controversy

Cuban radio reportedly made references to fears that the new government would remove children from their parents to indoctrinate them, one such broadcast in 1960 is said to have stated "Cuban mothers, don't let them take your children away! The Revolutionary Government will take them away from you when they turn five and will keep them until they are 18."^[3] Professor Maria de los Angeles Torres, herself a "Peter Pan child", attests that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) initiated the visa waiver program and deliberately spread the rumors that Cuban children would be taken from their parents by the Cuban government. The CIA has denied this claim.^[4]

In 1962, the US government commissioned a documentary film created for the children who came to Miami, called The Lost Apple. The film named Cuban premier Fidel Castro as being responsible for the parents' non-appearance. According to Torres, then-Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy approved making the documentary as part of the US government’s campaign against Communism.^[5]

Nelson P. Valdes, a University of New Mexico sociology professor who left Cuba at 15, said he later became convinced that the airlift was a Washington-concocted plot to drive wealth and knowledge from Cuba.^[6]

[edit] Aftermath

One of the most famous of the "Peter Pans" was Florida Senator Mel Martinez. The charitable organization "Operation Pedro Pan Group" was created to help needy children and preserve the history of the Pedro Pan exodus.

[edit] Culture

Carlos Eire describes his experiences in Operation Peter Pan in his memoir Waiting for Snow in Havana.

Tori Amos made a song about this operation titled "Operation Peter Pan". It has been released as a b-side through the single of "A Sorta Fairytale", taken from the album Scarlet's Walk.

The song "Baby Elian" by the Manic Street Preachers from their album Know Your Enemy also makes reference to Operation Peter Pan. During the chorus James Dean Bradfield exclaims, "Kidnapped to the promised land, the Bay of Pigs, Oh baby Elian, Operation Peter Pan, America, the devil's playground."

Jimmy Smits' character in the TV series Cane mentioned in several episodes, that he came to the US via Pedro Pan.