McAuliffe Urged to Meet Dissidents During Mission to Cuba

On the eve of Gov. Terry McAuliffe's trade mission to Cuba, an incoming state lawmaker whose family fled the island 50 years ago is appealing to the governor to meet with dissident Cubans.

McAuliffe is scheduled to leave Sunday for Cuba in what is being cast as a marketing mission. Besides the governor and first lady Dorothy McAuliffe, cabinet and private sector officials are also set to travel on the mission.

Shortly after the trip was announced, Delegate-elect Jason Miyares of Virginia Beach urged McAuliffe to meet with dissidents, who he said are harassed, beaten and imprisoned daily in Cuba.

McAuliffe said he has arranged meetings with prospective customers and partners for 10 Virginia companies. The trade group is scheduled to be in Cuba through Wednesday.

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