Cuban Americans in Charlotte React to Fidel Castro Death

CHARLOTTE, NC – For decades, Fidel Castro put his small island nation in the spotlight for sending many Cubans into exile and polarizing global opinion.

Now, those who fled the country are waiting to see if his death will be a catalyst for change.

At A Piece of Havana restaurant, owner Belkis Plasencia says she wishes she could be as excited as those partying in the streets of Miami.

“This is something that makes so many people happy and I have to respect that. But I think that changes need to, there’s a lot of things going on in Cuba that need to be change,” she explains.

Plasencia left Cuba 17 years ago and she’s convinced the suffering and lack of freedom for the Cuban people will continue as long as Castro’s brother and the Communist party stay in power.

“The change is not coming until the full, everybody change their minds and the people of Cuba say, ‘look we need a change now,'” she says.

And that she says is difficult because of what the people in Cuba are taught growing up.

“I used to love Fidel Castro when I left Cuba. So people need to understand that when you live in Cuba, you love Castro. You love him, cause that’s what they put in your mind,” Plasencia explains.

“Everything will be the same in Cuba. Nothing will change,” says Cuban immigrant Julitte Valdes.

She only left Cuba four years ago.

“We can’t find food. We can’t find anything. shoes, clothes, anything. It’s hard (in Cuba),” she says.

She says Castro is only the figurehead of the larger system that needs changing.

She told me what she hopes to eventually see in Cuba.

“Free expressions. Free information,” she says.