By Catherine Wilson, Associated Press. Sun-Sentinel . Web-posted: 11:26 a.m. May 10, 2000
MIAMI -- Hundreds of demonstrators carrying dozens of U.S. flags sang "God Bless America" and shouted "Justice for Elian" in a rally Wednesday supporting the Cuban boy removed from the home of his Miami relatives.
The gathering, which shut down two downtown blocks, was one of 13 planned at federal buildings in 13 major cities the day before a federal appeals court in Atlanta considers his plea for political asylum.
White and yellow stenciled posters carried messages reading "Not even a father has a right to condemn a child to slavery," "Communism is slavery. Did America forget?" One sign equating President Clinton to Cuban President Fidel Castro transformed the C's in their names
into the communist hammer and sickle.
Passing motorists honked their horns and offered thumbs-up signals to mostly middle-aged and older protesters before the street was closed.
Cuban flags were noticeably absent in contrast to demonstrations before Elian Gonzalez was seized in an armed federal raid April 22.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta is to consider whether the 6-year-old boy is entitled to pursue an asylum claim against the wishes of his father and an order from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. A decision could come in hours or months.
"We always have confidence in the legal system of the United States, even though there might be an adverse outcome," said demonstrator Ramon Saul Sanchez, head of the Democracy Movement, a Miami-based anti-Castro group. "What we don't want to see is his fate decided by the
policy and by politics."
In 83-degree heat, more than 50 women dressed in black for Mothers Against Repression, which supports Cuban political prisoners.
"Elian for us is one of thousands of people that have come to our shores in search of freedom, and we are here as Americans to support Elian's right to be free," said leader Sylvia Iriondo.
The appeals court has ordered Elian to stay in the United States until a ruling. He has been with his father, stepmother and 6-month-old half-brother at a secluded plantation in Maryland since the federal raid.
In earlier demonstrations, police with batons and shields confronted protesters in Miami's Little Havana the day Elian was taken, and more than 290 people were arrested. Three days later, a work stoppage called by Cuban-Americans shut down Little Havana, slowed other Hispanic neighborhoods
and spread into professional baseball. More than a dozen players and coaches skipped games that day.
Miami's City Hall hasn't been the same since. Mayor Joe Carollo fired City Manager Donald Warshaw for refusing to fire Police Chief William O'Brien, who didn't inform city officials of the pending raid.
Besides Miami, protests were planned in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C.
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