Lala Suarez Mooney Cuban prisoner Freedom Fighter

LaLa Sueraz Mooney (19)

Born in Cuba, Lala Mooney is one of 14 children of Manuel & Eloisa Suarez. She was put in prison in 1961 by Fidel Castro’s government, together with her father and two sisters. After two months, the family managed to be released from prison, and they came to the U.S. Lala Mooney is the mother of Congressman Alex X. Mooney, representing District 2 of West Virginia.

Lala Suarez Mooney was born in Cuba to a University Professor of Engineering, although the family was dominant in Cuba's sugar industry. When Castro came to power, he jailed many of the elite business families. Lala started working against Fidel Castro at the age of 16 and by 19, was swept up with her sisters and imprisoned. Lala tells the family's story in her book "Leaving Cuba: One Family's Journey to Freedom".

After escaping Cuba, the family adjusted as immigrants in the U.S. Lala's son, Alex is currently a Republican Congressman from West Virginia. Lala has returned to Cuba, visiting friends seven times. Her story reveals what happened to families like hers had the stayed. Americans will benefit to learn more about the horrors of living under Communist control and that the lure of the Siren Song of Socialism is a brutal lie.