Miami’s Little Havana is always brimming with energy... and cafecito, but the mood on Calle Ocho a little more celebratory today as Cuban-Americans have gathered to react to the historic U.S. indictment of former Cuban leader, Raul Castro.
Federal prosecutors in Miami announced charges tied to the 1996 Brothers to the Rescue shootdown that killed four men over the Florida Straits, a case that has remained deeply personal for South Florida’s Cuban exile community for nearly three decades. Many in attendance called the indictment “long overdue,” describing it as a symbolic moment of justice and accountability.
As news spread across Calle Ocho, crowds gathered at Versailles, long considered the political and cultural heart of Miami’s Cuban exile community, waving Cuban flags, drinking cafecito and sharing emotional reactions with reporters.
The restaurant has historically served as a rallying point during major moments involving Cuba, from Fidel Castro’s death to protests for democracy on the island. Today’s celebration has carried that same energy, with many Cuban-Americans saying the indictment represents hope that the suffering endured under Cuba’s communist regime has not been forgotten.
See a video from Local 10 below ⬇️⬇️
