MIAMI (AP) – Waving U.S. and Cuban flags and chanting “Obama, traitor,” anti-Castro protesters gathered Saturday in a Little Havana park in a show of opposition to the president’s plan to normalize relations with the communist nation.
Cuban-American exiles and island opposition leaders vowed to continue fighting the thawing relationship between the countries and prevent any lifting of the embargo. Some speakers emphasized unity of the Cuban-American community and said there is not a generational divide, even though most in the crowd of more than 200 were older.
Many protesters said they felt betrayed by President Barack Obama and his plans. “The worst infamy is the pretext he used: He says it’s to help the Cuban people,” former U.S. Rep. Lincoln Diaz Balart said to chuckles.
Several chants rang out among protesters: “No more flights to Cuba!” ”Viva Cuba libre!” and “Freedom for all the political prisoners.”
Some protesters expressed disappointment with demonstration turnouts since the announcement this week of renewed U.S.-Cuba ties.