New Jersey School Cancels CuCu Diamantes Performance Due To Her Participation In Juanes’ Concert

Cuban singer and Yerba Buena co-founder CuCu Diamantes was scheduled to perform at Union City High School in (unsurprisingly) Union City, New Jersey - a city that happens to be home to a relatively substantial Cuban population.

However, following her decision to perform in Juanes’ Paz Sin Fronteras concert in La Habana, the New Jersey Board of Educators received pressure from the school community to revoke CuCu’s invitation to visit the school.

Explained the board:

We must cancel the contract, due to your client’s recent performance at the Paz Sin Fronteras in Cuba, our community, which is comprised of approximately 85 % Cuban immigrants, became enraged at the thought of the High School supporting an artist who would perform in Cuba. The community came together and threatened civil unrest, protests and the like at the grand opening gala if the High School went ahead with its plans to allow Ms. Diamantes to perform.

CuCu had even created a Facebook event in anticipation of her performance at the school:

In this Spanish-language report about the cancellation, members of the community explain that, had she gone to Cuba to sing for liberty, they might feel differently. CuCu herself expressed her dismay at not being able to perform for the students:

Tito Puentes, Jr. is set to take CuCu’s place.

What do think of the school board’s decision? Were they right to cancel her performance due to protests by those in the community, or should they have allowed her to perform anyway? And is the Cuban community in Union City justified in their displeasure over CuCu’s decision to perform in Cuba? 

Oh if only Olga Tañon would come and impart some of her in-depth knowledge of Cuba and Cubans. 

Cucu’s Show in Union City cancelled due to her participation in Paz Sin Fronteras [CuCu Diamantes]