By Amy Jacobson. MSNBC, Jan. 12
CHICAGO – The battle over custody of six-year-old Elian Gonzales is raging, with a new wave of demonstrations in Miami, Havana, and now in Chicago.
Lazaro Angel Cabrera Puente and Hermes Bory are on a hunger strike to protest the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service’s decision last week to send Elian back to his father in Cuba. They have not eaten since Saturday morning, and are willing to die for their cause.
Both men escaped communist Cuba. Cabrera Puente left two months ago, Bory 28 years ago with his wife and one-year-old daughter.
Bory says he knows first hand the trauma little Elian and his mother must have gone through to get to the United States.
"She died in order to get her son out of Cuba no matter if he reached the United States or any other free country," he said.
Most of the 15,000 Cuban-Americans in Chicago say they are supportive of the hunger strike.
"I think it’s a great thing. It’s a matter of principle," said Tino Diaz. "Whatever we can do as Cubans, I think we are morally obligated to help this kid, the way his mother fought for him."
Even though a Miami judge on Monday granted interim custody to a relative until a full hearing on March 6, the two men say they will continue their hunger strike until the INS changes their ruling that the boy be returned by Friday.
Both men say they are doing well. However, a doctor will be examining them on Tuesday. |