Miami's feral chickens are a living part of our city's identity. For generations they have roamed Little Havana — descendants of birds brought by Cuban and Caribbean families who built this city.

They appear in our murals, our photos, and our daily lives. Tourists seek them out; residents call them neighbors.

Yet these birds have no legal protection. They can be trapped, removed, or harmed with no consistent policy governing their treatment.

We call on Commissioner Escalona and the City of Miami Commission to:

1. Grant protected status to free-roaming chickens in Little Havana and other designated cultural districts, prohibiting capture, harassment, or harm except for documented health or safety reasons.
2. Establish humane management guidelines with animal welfare organizations — vaccination, sanctuary relocation, or adoption where needed, never culling.
3. Recognize the feral chicken as an official cultural heritage symbol of Little Havana, following the precedent set by Key West and Tampa's Ybor City.

Commissioner Escalona has made restoring Little Havana's pride and cultural identity his signature mission. Few symbols say Little Havana like the rooster on Calle Ocho. Protecting them costs the city almost nothing and preserves something irreplaceable.

Firma por la libertad. Sign for Pollo Libre.