Cuban Democratic Revolutionary Front
Encyclopedia
The Cuban Democratic Revolutionary Front was founded in May 1960 by anti-Castro
Cuban exile
s and was initially headquartered in Mexico
. It was known in Spanish as the Frente Revolucionario Democratico (FRD) and was composed of five major anti-Castro groups. The FRD's military wing was called Brigade 2506
, which fought in the Bay of Pigs Invasion
Cuban exile Sergio Arcacha Smith was the head the New Orleans chapter of the FRD. In December 1960, Arcacha Smith opened an office in the Balter Building at 403 Camp Street, Room 207. This was the building where anti-Castro activist and accused JFK assassination conspirator Guy Banister
also had his office. In early 1962, both Banister and Arcacha Smith moved their offices to the Newman Building at the corner of 544 Camp Street and 531 Lafayette Street.
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
Cuban exile
Cuban exile
The term "Cuban exile" refers to the many Cubans who have sought alternative political or economic conditions outside the island, dating back to the Ten Years' War and the struggle for Cuban independence during the 19th century...
s and was initially headquartered in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. It was known in Spanish as the Frente Revolucionario Democratico (FRD) and was composed of five major anti-Castro groups. The FRD's military wing was called Brigade 2506
Brigade 2506
Brigade 2506 was the name given to a CIA-sponsored group of Cuban exiles formed in 1960 to attempt the military overthrow of the Cuban government headed by Fidel Castro...
, which fought in the Bay of Pigs Invasion
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs Invasion was an unsuccessful action by a CIA-trained force of Cuban exiles to invade southern Cuba, with support and encouragement from the US government, in an attempt to overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro. The invasion was launched in April 1961, less than three months...
Cuban exile Sergio Arcacha Smith was the head the New Orleans chapter of the FRD. In December 1960, Arcacha Smith opened an office in the Balter Building at 403 Camp Street, Room 207. This was the building where anti-Castro activist and accused JFK assassination conspirator Guy Banister
Guy Banister
William Guy Banister was a career member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and a private investigator. He gained notoriety from the allegations made by New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison, after Banister's death, that he had been involved in the assassination of John F. Kennedy...
also had his office. In early 1962, both Banister and Arcacha Smith moved their offices to the Newman Building at the corner of 544 Camp Street and 531 Lafayette Street.