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Thousands Take To The Streets Of Miami In Reaction To Fidel Castro's Death

Thousands of people took to the streets of Miami late Friday with Cuban flags, pots and pans, cafecitos and cigars in reaction to the announcement of the death of Fidel Castro by the Cuban government

Traffic in Little Havana, Bird Road and  parts of Hialeah stretched for miles while crowds celebrated the news of the death of the revolutionary leader, announced on Cuban television by his brother and current president of the island, Raul Castro.

Many in the crowd screamed "Viva Cuba Libre". Some others had t-shirts and signs saying  "Tu día llegó" (Your day has come) and "Al fin." Some brought family heirlooms like flags draped over grandparents' caskets and bottles of champagne. 

From La Carreta on Bird Road and 87 avenue in Miami

“I’ve been waiting for this for 57 years. Not because I’m glad that he died – I’m not glad that anybody died. But he represents the suffering of the Cuban people,” said Zenaida Ferro, who lives near  The Falls but drove all the way to Little Havana to participate in the street celebrations. 

“I am celebrating that he is no longer there, that his name will never be used again, that he will not be able to kill anyone else,” said Ferro, whose father died in Cuba. “At least we know that nothing is eternal. So that’s why we celebrate.”

“Knowing that [Fidel] Castro has finally died is a way to know that there’s hope in Cuba again," said Emmanuel Oramas, Cuban-American born and raised in Hialeah but currently living in Miami Beach. "Soon Raúl will die. Soon this entire dynasty will die and we will bring forth new hope, new liberation, a chance for people to freely express themselves.”

“We’re moving forward, progressing slowly, to get to a free Cuba,” said Oramas, who feels a deep connection with the island even though he hasn't have the chance to visit it yet. 

Read More: Fidel Castro, Revolutionary Revered and Reviled, Dead at 90 

"You can't blame the Cubans for celebrating tonight," said Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado. "This is a man that affected many generations of Cubans and Cuban Americans."

Willy Chirinos' iconic song "Ya viene llegando"(Our Day Is Coming) was also being played in La Carreta located at Bird Road and Southwest 87th Avenue, along with the traditional cazuelas. Many echoed the song's vows for a better future for Cuba.  

For some others, this is a bittersweet celebration. 

Other social media users pointed out the irony that Fidel Castro, leader of a socialist revolution, died on Black Friday.

And there was also several references on social media to the death toll of personalities during 2016.

Listen to our special coverage of the aftermath of Fidel Castro's death here: 

Thousands Take To The Streets Of Miami In Reaction To Fidel Castro's Death

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Celebrations on Friday night at La Carreta located at Bird Road and 87th avenue, in Miami.
Lisann Ramos / WLRN
/
WLRN
Celebrations on Friday night at La Carreta located at Bird Road and 87th avenue, in Miami.

Celebrations at Cafe Versailles, in Little Havana.
Kate Stein / WLRN
/
WLRN
Celebrations at Cafe Versailles, in Little Havana.

Celebrations on Friday night at La Carreta located at Bird Road and 87th avenue, in Miami.
Lisann Ramos / WLRN
/
WLRN
Celebrations on Friday night at La Carreta located at Bird Road and 87th avenue, in Miami.

Celebrations at Cafe Versailles, in Little Havana.
Kate Stein / WLRN
/
WLRN
Celebrations at Cafe Versailles, in Little Havana.

Celebrations on Friday night at La Carreta located at Bird Road and 87th avenue, in Miami.
Kate Stein / WLRN
/
WLRN
Celebrations on Friday night at La Carreta located at Bird Road and 87th avenue, in Miami.

Kate Stein can't quite explain what attracts her to South Florida. It's more than just the warm weather (although this Wisconsin native and Northwestern University graduate definitely appreciates the South Florida sunshine). It has a lot to do with being able to travel from the Everglades to Little Havana to Brickell without turning off 8th Street. It's also related to Stein's fantastic coworkers, whom she first got to know during a winter 2016 internship.Officially, Stein is WLRN's environment, data and transportation journalist. Privately, she uses her job as an excuse to rove around South Florida searching for stories à la Carl Hiaasen and Edna Buchanan. Regardless, Stein speaks Spanish and is always thrilled to run, explore and read.
My job is to get our stories to your ears every afternoon.
Teresa Elena Frontado specializes in helping newsrooms navigate the complexities of digital transitions while incorporating new platforms and technology into their workflows. She has more than 20 years of experience working for media organizations in the United States and Latin America, including CBS Miami, Univision Network, El Nuevo Herald, El Nacional (Venezuela) and El Universal (Venezuela).