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.
Avoid driving on SW 8 St. West of 32 Ave. You will not be allowed near #Versailles due to pedestrians on the roadway. pic.twitter.com/Zfto563uLX— Miami PD (@MiamiPD) November 26, 2016
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.
LIVE on #Periscope: Vuvuzelas, pans, bells and rain outside Versailles restaurant to celebrate #Castro's death @WLRN https://t.co/1jsB2B0ecE— Kate Stein (@stein_katherine) November 26, 2016
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.”
Almost 2AM and things don't appear to be calming down in West Dade. #FidelCastro 's death was announced 2 hrs ago. pic.twitter.com/jHPTMDPZof— Lisann Ramos (@lisannification) November 26, 2016
“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.
After so many decades of oppression the tyrant #Castro is dead and a new beginning can finally dawn on #Cuba and its people @nbc6— Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (@RosLehtinen) November 26, 2016
For some others, this is a bittersweet celebration.
Fidel Castro is dead. Literally no other human being has loomed over my life to the degree of this man.— Danny Rivero (@TooMuchMe) November 26, 2016
I get to call my 91 year old Cuban grandma tomorrow. She came here in 1962 to escape that pig. And she will get the last laugh. #FidelCastro— ⚡️⚡️Bill Allen ⚡️⚡️ (@pandajerk) November 26, 2016
Other social media users pointed out the irony that Fidel Castro, leader of a socialist revolution, died on Black Friday.
I love the fact that #FidelCastro died on #BlackFriday, a glorious celebration of American capitalism & abundance. #CubaLibre— Sarah Rumpf (@rumpfshaker) November 26, 2016
How ironically is life sometimes. Fidel Castro was against American consumption...died on a Black Friday! #fidelcastro— Andres M Castillo (@castillo_am) November 26, 2016
And there was also several references on social media to the death toll of personalities during 2016.
Not even #FidelCastro could survive 2016. This year succeeds where the CIA failed 638(!) times.— Hans-Georg Gadamer (@Gadamer_Tweets) November 26, 2016
Listen to our special coverage of the aftermath of Fidel Castro's death here:
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