Marcell Felipe

Inspire America’s Initiatives for the Trump Administration

Marcell Felipe is an international tax and corporate lawyer based in Miami and the founder of the Inspire America Foundation. The foundation’s aim is to promote democracy in Cuba and the Americas. On the anniversary of Donald Trump’s visit to Miami, Marcell Felipe along with Inspire America released ten initiatives that would continue to serve that end.

Among the ten initiatives was the plea to reinstate the Cuban regime to the list of state sponsors of terrorism. Cuba was removed from the list in 2015 by the previous administration.

Another initiative calls for the discontinuation of law enforcement cooperation based on the regime’s provision of sanctuary to American terrorists and criminals and cooperation with drug trafficking organizations.

Perhaps the most dramatic, however, is to allow federal prosecutors the discretion to indict Raul Castro on various charges. The Trump administration has not been friendly to the Cuban regime, but it’s unclear how many of these initiatives will receive its attention.

Spain’s King Felipe VI Speaks of a Need for Democracy in Cuba

Marcell Felipe is a longtime Miami attorney focused on advocating for democracy and developing pathways for Cuban reconstruction after the current communist regime. One of Marcell Felipe’s several leadership positions is as chair and founder of the nonprofit Inspire America Foundation, and he supports efforts by international leaders to present Cuba with freedom-focused alternatives to its current repression.

King Felipe VI of Spain recently made a visit to Cuba that was criticized by a number of dissident groups, as the royal did not meet with human rights activists or with leaders in the government to discuss change. The timing of his visit was also an issue, as Cuba has recently increased repression of peaceful opposition activists such as Jose Daniel Ferrer. In early October, the human rights proponent was arrested without being charged, and he has allegedly been tortured in prison.

According to the Miami Herald, Felipe’s visit ran the risk of “giving political legitimacy to an unelected regime.” The Spanish king addressed these concerns at an official dinner on November 14, at which he courageously spoke on a need for democratic freedoms in Cuba in the presence of Miguel Diaz-Canel, the island’s dictator.

Although King Felipe VI’s words in support of democracy were not broadcast live or printed in Cuban newspapers, they have resonated throughout the world and are posted on the king’s website.

National Security at Issue in Florida Confucius Institute Closure

Marcell Felipe is a respected presence in the Miami legal community who serves as the board chair for the Inspire America Foundation and the Initiative for Democratic and Economic Alternatives for Cuba at Florida International University. In his capacity as a Miami Dade College (MDC) trustee, Marcell Felipe raised concerns that led to the shuttering of the last of four Chinese-government funded Confucius Institutes statewide.

The issues with MDC’s Confucius Institute, which provided Mandarin language education, included concerns detailed by Felipe in an email to the Miami Herald that “you can’t partner with an institution once you know they persecute their own academics.” By refusing to partner with the program, Miami Dade College was taking a stand in support of freedom and independence within US academic settings.

The successful efforts to close Confucius Institutes across Florida reflected concerted political will, with Republican US Senator Marco Rubio initially recommending the shutdown in 2018. More recently, a resolution was crafted by Miami-Dade County Commissioner Esteban Bovo, who highlighted national security concerns about the institute at MDC.

About Marcell Felipe

An attorney with more than 20 years of experience in the field of law, Marcell Felipe serves as the founder of Marcell Felipe Attorneys in Miami. In addition to overseeing his law firm, Felipe holds leadership positions at multiple institutions and is one of the most influential leaders of the movement to bring democracy to Cuba.

In 2019, Marcell Felipe was the chair of the Inspire America Foundation, an influential organization, founded by Cuban American leaders and dedicated to promoting democracy in Cuba and the Americas. As part of the work with Inspire America, Marcell Felipe serves as the chair of the advisory board for the Initiative for Democratic and Economic Alternatives (IDEAS) for Cuba, at the Havel Program at Florida International University. In 2019, he was re-elected chairman of the American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora in Miami, where he maintains full executive authority of the institution’s long-term vision.

In 2019, Marcell Felipe was selected by the governor of Florida to join the board of trustees of Miami Dade College, a public university serving more than 100,000 students. In this role, he assists in the development of the institution’s long-term plans and the election of its presidents.

In addition to these activities, he shares insights into the democratic process as a political commentator. He is a regularly featured guest on the America Teve Network, and he hosts a weekly radio show on Radio Marti, a censorship-free broadcast operated by the U.S. government and broadcast to Cuba, Florida, and other regions.