Local Cuban-American Reacts To Castro's Death
PHILADELPHIA, PA - The death of Cuba's former Communist leader Fidel Castro is a reminder of the dark shadow his reign cast over the people far from the island nation.
"For a bunch of folks in the Cuban community it's a lot like the death of Osama Bin Laden," says former Philadelphia deputy mayor Rich Negrin.
He was born in he U-A after his parents fled Cuba in 1961.
At the age of 13 Negrin witnessed the assassination of his father, who advocated for normalized relations with the communist nation.
"He helped negotiate the release of 3 thousand political prisoners and because of that he was targeted by a radical Cuban terrorist group and was killed," says Negrin.
Castro's regime is also accused of aiding a convicted New Jersey cop killer.
Joanne Chesimard killed a New Jersey State Trooper, then fled to Cuba in 1979 after escaping prison.
Castro granted her asylum.
Saturday New Jersey State Police released a statement saying "We will never cease pursuing Joanne Chesimard, who is convicted of murdering New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster."
New jersey Senator Bob Menendez, a Cuban American, has been a leading critic of President Obama's efforts to restore ties with Cuba over the last few years.
He says even with Castro's death the U-S must demand civil rights for the people of Cuba.
"Instead of condoning the continuation of repressive regime simply because its been around long enough the United States and the international community must stand up and support the Cuban people," says Menendez.
