Press Advisory
51st Anniversary of Cuban backed terror bombings in New York City that killed four, wounded fifty observed by Secretary Marco Rubio, victims’ families and Frank Calzon in New York City at the Fraunces Tavern
Contacts: John Suárez (612) 367-6845 / Janisset Rivero (786) 208-6056
Joe Connor and Frank Calzon at the Fraunces Tavern on January 24, 2026.(CFC)
Center for a Free Cuba, January 24, 2026, Washington, DC. Today, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio observed the 51st anniversary of the terror bombing at the Fraunces Tavern in New York City on January 24, 1975, which resulted in four fatalities and about fifty injuries over X today. Additionally, Secretary Rubio condemned the Cuban government’s ongoing protection of William “Guillermo” Morales, a Puerto Rican FALN terrorist who manufactured the bomb used in the attack.
“On this day in 1975, four people were killed and fifty others were injured during a terrorist attack at the Fraunces Tavern in New York City. The illegitimate Cuban regime continues to harbor William Morales, the architect of this savage crime. We honor the memory of those lost and recognize the enduring pain of everyone touched by this tragedy. The United States will not relent in its pursuit of justice for the victims”.
Joseph Connor, the son of Frank Connor, one of the four victims of the lunch time terror bombing attack in the Tavern responded over X: “Thank you Secretary Rubio. We will commemorate my dad and the other innocent men murdered that day, by terrorists and the Cuba regime. Here’s to justice.” He also posted a link to the statement put out by Secretary Rubio in 2025, on the 50th anniversary of the terror attack.
Frank Calzon, former executive director of the Center for a Free Cuba, joined Joseph Connor, and other family members of the victims of the Fraunces Tavern terror bombing at a private observance in the tavern today on the 51st anniversary of the attack.
Earlier this month, on January 13th, Joe Connor attended an international gathering at the Victims of Communism Museum in Washington DC co-hosted by the Center for a Free Cuba and the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation in which he addressed the 1975 terror attack and his family’s ongoing efforts to obtain justice for his dad.
“Cuban, and by extension, Soviet proxy groups like the Weather Underground, May 19th Communist Organization, Black Liberation Army and the Puerto Rican Marxist separatist terrorist group, Armed Forces for National Liberation (FALN) conducted a reign of terror against the people of The United States in the 1960s, 70s and into the 80s. Our father, 33-year-old Frank Connor, and three other innocent men, Alex Berger, Jim Gezork and Harold Sherbourne were murdered, while scores were injured and maimed, on January 24, 1975, when the FALN blew up New York’s historic Fraunces Tavern during a crowded lunchtime.”
John Suarez, executive director of the Center for a Free Cuba reflected on the significance of the Cuban dictatorship’s support of terrorism against civilians around the world.
“The victims of Cuban sponsored terrorism, their families, and friends, are still waiting for reparations and the right they have to the truth and for the weight of the law to fall on those guilty of these crimes. Joseph Connor, the son of Frank Connor, an American victim of a terrorist bombing attack in New York City sponsored by Havana continues to demand that Guillermo Morales, the bomb maker that murdered his dad, be extradited from Cuba where he is harbored. The families and friends of thousands of other victims from Latin America, Spain, and the United States killed in the terrorist actions and guerilla wars created and financed by Havana also continue to cry out for justice.”
Next month will mark thirty years since three United States citizens, Armando Alejandre Jr., Carlos Costa, Mario de la Peña and a legal resident, Pablo Morales in two ‘Brothers to the Rescue’ planes engaged in a humanitarian search and rescue mission were shot down by military planes of the Castro dictatorship and murdered over international airspace on February 24, 1996 in what an international investigation determined was a premeditated act of state terrorism.
Manuel Iglesias, president of the Center for a Free Cuba cited this act of terror when opening the January 13th conference “60 Years of Cuban Terror” observing and analyzing the legacy of the January 1966 Tricontinental Conference in Havana, Cuba.
“Before we begin our discussion, I want to touch on a Cuban terrorist attack that impacted me. Next month on February 24th we will mark thirty years since Cuban MiGs, with the aid of Cuban spies operating in the United States, shot down two civilian planes in international airspace, piloted by Brothers to the Rescue volunteers, then engaged in the search and rescue of Cuban rafters. Four men were killed: Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre, Jr., Mario de la Peña, and Pablo Morales.”
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