Jesús A. Permuy (born 1935) is a Cuban-American architect, urban planner, human rights activist, art collector, and businessman.

Jesús played a leading role in the opposition to Fidel Castro and the Communist forces through the Movimiento de Recuperación Revolucionaria (Movement for Revolutionary Recovery – MRR), one of the most influential organizations in the anti-Castro counterrevolution.

[1][2][3][4][5] Following the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion, he fled to Venezuela via the Venezuelan Embassy and remained there for several months under diplomatic protection until permanently relocating to the United States.

There he continued both his architecture and urban planning studies and career as well as taking up activism championing the cause of democracy and human rights for the Cuban people in the face of abuses by the Castro government.

During the 1960s and '70s, Permuy was part of the architecture teams behind several prominent Florida structures and landmarks including the New World Tower and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

[15] After relocating back to South Florida in 1970, he acted as Planning Division Supervisor of Metro Dade County (now Miami-Dade County) Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) until 1973, when the Miami Herald reported that he resigned from the position for the private sector role of Vice President of International Investment Group Inc.'s Housing and Development branch.

[19] In 1983, Permuy was appointed by the Miami City Commission to the East Little Havana Task Force, which was assembled that year to investigate and combat the deteriorating economic and living conditions in the area as a result of the Mariel boatlift crisis.

[21] By 1984 he was made co-chairman and helped develop the East Little Havana Redevelopment Plan, which was submitted to the City of Miami at the conclusion of the Taskforce that year.

[27][28][29][30] The center advocated for human rights internationally and helped connect families living in Cuba with their relatives in the United States.

[38] He was also president of the influential federation of over thirty Cuban organizations, Unidad Cubana (Cuban Unity)[39][40][41][42] in addition to the Christian Democratic Movement of Cuba, both of which were active internationally to raise awareness to human rights abuses in Cuba and other Latin American dictatorships as well as engaging in lobbying[43] and diplomatic efforts to enact change.

[46] By 1992, there had been a substantial change in Geneva as the UN Human Rights Council had shifted from initial rejection, then indifference and towards embrace of Permuy's diplomatic efforts.

[47][5] That year Permuy testified to the House of Representatives as President of the Christian Democratic Party to push for the Cuban Democracy Act during the Special Period in Cuba following the conclusion of the Cold War.

"[35] Coral Gables Mayor Raul Valdes-Fauli stated Permuy's "human rights activities on behalf of Cuba have been significant and very influential.

In that time he was part of a well-regarded student design publication, Espacio, through which he became acquainted with many artists, including Amelia Peláez and José María Mijares.

[53][7] It was also credited with beginning the Friday Gallery Nights tradition that continues in Coral Gables as a monthly event, though it was originally held every week.

The gallery featured the artwork of several renowned and established Cuban artists as well as newcomers seeking to launch their careers across painting, ceramic, and sculpture.

Some notable featured artists included: Peláez, Mijares, René Portocarrero, Víctor Manuel García Valdés, Juan Gonzalez, Rafael Soriano, Emilio Falero, Dionisio Perkins, and Lourdes Gomez-Franca.

[14] In 2017 Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen gave a Statement of Congressional Record on the floor of the House of Representatives to pay tribute to his life and career and calling him "a shining example to us all".