Castro Supporters Rally Outside U.S. Embassy in Havana

Thousands of supporters of former Cuban President Raul Castro gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Havana in a show of backing for the 94-year-old former leader, who has been indicted in the United States on murder and other charges. The rally drew Cuban flags and chants as protesters marched and gathered in the park across from the embassy. The charges against Raul Castro are linked to the downing of two civilian aircraft in 1996. The legal case is being viewed as the latest stage of U.S. President Donald Trump’s pressure campaign against communist leaders in Cuba. Current state leaders and senior officials joined the demonstration, adding institutional weight to the public display of support. Raul Castro himself did not attend the rally. His daughter Mariela Castro, a member of parliament, and his son Alejandro Castro, who played a key role in the restoration of diplomatic relations in 2015, were both present among the crowd. Former Cuban spy Gerardo Hernandez told the rally that Raul Castro had thanked the public for its solidarity and would continue to defend the revolution.