MIAMI – It was Hollywood meets Little Havana as movie star Andy Garcia and singer Gloria Estefan joined hundreds of protesters riding an emotional roller-coaster here yesterday.
The two Cuban-American entertainers urged the crowd to keep its cool while throwing their high-wattage support behind the Miami relatives of Elian Gonzalez.
“The Gonzalez family has suffered and those who know the reality of Castro’s Cuba believe passionately that this little boy should not return,” said Garcia, who came to the United States when he was 5.
“We must respect the rights of the boy! Why hasn’t the government taken into account that his boy does not want to go back to Cuba?” the actor said.
“We cannot forget the will of the mother. The child should be granted asylum.”
Estefan, who left Cuba at the age of 2, preached calm to the throng of 1,000 demonstrators.
“We want no violence. We are a peaceful community,” said Estefan, wearing black clothing similar to the garb of a group of women who have formed human chains near the house.
During the day, a parade of other Latino celebrities came by – including Cuban trumpet player Arturo Sandoval and talk-show host Cristina Saralegui.
For protesters who have been keeping vigil outside the house, it was a day of tension followed by relief. As the 2 p.m. deadline set by the government for the boy’s hand-over approached, more and more demonstrators converged on the street – joining those who had spent the night in sleeping bags.
“We are going to fight and be here,” said Juan Agustin Gomez, 72, an electrician who left Cuba 30 years ago. “You don’t know the determination of the Cuban people.”
There was an air of unease as police kept some media out of the protest area and reinforced barricades with chains. Some in the crowd shouted, “War! War! War!”
Hours later, the mood shifted when the crowd learned a federal appeals judge had issued a stay keeping Elian in the country for now.
As dusk fell, Elian came out and surveyed the roaring protesters for a few minutes before his cousin Marisleysis tugged him inside.
Family spokesman Armando Gutierrez said the youngster had taken matters into his own hands to cope with all the excitement – rubbing his arms as he chatted with Garcia and Estefan.
“I have to give myself a massage,” he told his famous guests. “Because I have to relax.”