Mayor Gimenez On Fidel Castro Death: "The People Of Cuba Are Still Not Free"
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – "Raul is still in power and the people of Cuba are still not free." Those are just some of the words of Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez as he spoke to CBS4 News early Saturday morning upon learning of the death of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
"The Cuban exile community has been waiting for this for a very long time," said Gimenez. However, "The Castro era still continues under Raul Castro but at least one chapter of the Castro book is finally over with Fidel, but Raul is still in power and the people of Cuba are still not free and that's what we all hope here, for the Cuban American community to say one day that we have a free Cuba."
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He went on, "Today, the passing of Fidel Castro, that torch had already been passed to Raul and while we in the Cuban American community, I am a Cuban American myself, can celebrate but and that's tough for me to say as a Christian but really this person Fidel Castro, there's a lot of blood on his hands, a lot of people have died and he has oppressed millions of people throughout more than 50 years so I can't feel too sorry for him."
The Mayor also talked about the crowds gathering on the streets of South Florida and asked the public to celebrate safely.
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"For tonight, it's a spontaneous celebration and it's pretty much in line with a championship celebration. Versailles is the center for the Cuban American community. We expect everyone to be safe. The message is if you want to go out do so in a safe manner."