Cuban-Americans in Massachusetts React to Death of Fidel Castro

Many locals believe Castro's regime will live on through his family

With the announcement of Fidel Castro's death, the Cuban community in Massachusetts still believes the regime of the longtime president and leader of the country's Communist revolution, will carry on under his brother Raul's leadership.

Alberto Vasallo, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, experienced the pain of the Cuban people through his dad's eyes who exiled Cuba at the young age of 23.

"A dictator died. A man who symbolizes so much pain and suffering to so many people," Vasallo said.

Nobel Garcia, originally from Cuba, now living in Cambridge, said he believes a change will come to the country soon.

"They've been behind a wall for 50 years, with many needs and that's why Fidel Castro has been a tyrant a communists and his brother is the same thing now," Garcia said. "The people of Cuba deserve it after 50 years."

Still, many believe Castro's regime will live on through his family.

"Raul was Minister of Defense for 50 years and now he is president so I'm assuming one of his sons will take up his mentor," said Jacob Rodriguez, of Roslindale, Massachusetts.

Cuban Americans claim the Castro family still owns much of the wealth in Cuba, but hope that with Fidel's death, a new era will begin.

"I'd like to see a country that's free to elect a president - freedom of speech, freedom to do business and less control from the government," said Joseph Rodriguez, of Roslindale, Massachusetts.

Much of the Cuban community believes there won't be an immediate change but hope the relationship with the United States continues to be nourished.

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