Clinton Assails Coast Guard’s Sinking of Refugees’ Rowboat
President Clinton on Tuesday strongly condemned the recent actions of the U.S. Coast Guard in trying to stop six Cuban refugees from reaching the coast of Florida.
Speaking at a Democratic fund-raiser in Coral Gables, Clinton called the actions “outrageous” and said he has ordered a full investigation into the incident.
“I want you to know, it was not an authorized policy. None of us knew anything about it,” Clinton said. “We have taken vigorous steps to make sure it does not happen again. And the incident is being thoroughly investigated.”
He did not elaborate.
In the June 29 incident, the Coast Guard used a water cannon to sink the small wooden rowboat carrying the six men, forcing them into the Atlantic Ocean. Then several Coast Guard vessels circled the men and blocked their desperate efforts to swim ashore. One Coast Guardsman doused one of the swimmers with pepper spray.
The incident was carried live on local television and later broadcast nationwide, sparking outrage among Cuban Americans and others.
“The Coast Guard has tried to react more to try to cut down on alien smuggling,” Clinton said. “But what happened with the way those people were sprayed and all that, it was outrageous.”
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
