A coalition of local artists and residents demonstrated outside Miami\u2019s historic Freedom Tower on Friday, rallying against Miami-Dade College\u2019s decision last year to transfer public land for the development of the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library while Trump serves as sitting president.<\/p>\n
They argue that surrendering valuable public real estate for a sitting president\u2019s project compromises assets earmarked for public education and violates constitutional principles. <\/p>\n
“This property belongs to the public, the students of Miami-Dade College, and the history of this city,” said Dr. Marvin Dunn. “Gifting public educational land for commercial enterprise and a sitting President’s private legacy project is illegal, unconstitutional, and a betrayal of the public trust.”<\/p>\n
Dunn is also among a group of Miami residents who sued President Donald Trump, Miami Dade College and Florida state officials last May, alleging that the decision to donate the land for Trump’s future presidential library \u2014 which might also house a hotel \u2014 is unconstitutional. <\/p>\n
The lawsuit argues that the president, his presidential library foundation and state officials \u2014 including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis \u2014 violated the Domestic Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits states from giving a financial benefit to a sitting president.<\/p>\n
Last month, a federal judge<\/a> in Miami dealt a blow to the plaintiff’s lawsuit, ruling that “Presidential and Eleventh Amendment immunity defenses” should be resolved before the case can proceed, Law&Crime reported on Sept. 11<\/a>.<\/p>\n Friday’s rally location carries strong cultural significance for South Florida. The Freedom Tower is the home of the Miami News newspaper and operated as the Cuban Refugee Center from 1962 to 1974, providing assistance to hundreds of thousands of Cuban refugees fleeing political turmoil. The National Historic Landmark currently operates under the stewardship of Miami-Dade College.<\/p>\n