Versailles Preps Amid Castro Death Rumors
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – If you believe social media, Cuba's former leader Fidel Castro is dead—again.
For the past few days, the rumor mill, mostly via Twitter, has been abuzz with Castro's death. But nothing, as of early Friday afternoon, has been confirmed.
Friday morning, the main parking lot of Versailles Café, a popular meeting place for the Cuban community in Little Havana, also a go-to spot for politicians seeking support from the Cuban-American community, was roped off.
Nicole Valls, Versailles spokeswoman and daughter of the owner Felipe Valls Jr., told CBSMiami.com the yellow caution tape was there—just in case there's truth to the tale.
"We're just preparing because we've heard that there's rumors that Fidel might be dead and that the government…originally there was going to be an announcement at 10 am, then it was noon, now I'm hearing they might do an announcement at 6 pm. But nothing is confirmed," Nicole Valls said.
Valls said that a combination of media, and word of mouth, is behind the preparation.
Versailles in Little Havana.1/9/15 (Source: Giovanna Maselli)
"The government over there is denying it but a bunch of news outlets have been coming in just in case," Valls said.
Lionel Noy, a physician who frequents Versailles, said he's aware of the rumors, however he's hesitant to believe them as this isn't the first time Castro has reportedly died.
"I hear the issue of Fidel Castro's death but this has happened before so it won't be the first time it happens," said Noy. "I think people get excited, there's a lot of people here, a lot of cameras, but always wonder if it's real or not."
One source of the rumor, however, may be merely a coincidence as the son of a prominent Kenyan politician, Fidel Castro Odinga, died several days ago.
In addition, it's been a year since the ailing Cuban leader has made a public appearance.
Fidel Castro took power in a 1959 revolution and led Cuba for 48 years before falling gravely ill in July 2006. He went through multiple abdominal surgeries and reportedly had part of his colon removed. He stepped down from power on July 31, 2008 and delegated his presidential duties to his brother Raul in what state media described as a temporary measure. However, Raul officially took power two years later and has led Cuba ever since.
In the US, no region has been impacted more by Castro's rule than South Florida, where hundreds of thousands of Cubans have settled since he took power.
At Versailles Friday, it's "business as usual," Valls said, but they are preparing just in case.
"…if it is true that Fidel died, what we're assuming is going to happen is that everyone's going to come to Versailles, you know, all of Miami with their pots and their pans. They are going to celebrate on the street. I'm assuming the police is going to close off some of the street in front of the restaurant," said Valls.
READ: Policy Change Splits Cubans, No Treaty At Café Versailles
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