Protestors gather outside Cuba’s WBC semifinal against USA, slam national team and government

Protestors gathered outside the Miami Marlins stadium Sunday ahead of a tense matchup between Cuba and the USA to demonstrate against the Cuban ‘dictatorship’ and the national team. 

The WBC game between Cuba and the United States has gripped the city of Miami in more ways than one.

While many filed into the ballpark for the game, others stood outside protesting against one of the countries participating.

Dozens of protesters gathered in front of about 15 police officers with signs speaking out against Cuba’s communist government and the political prisoners still detained on the island. 

The protesters surrounded the park waving flags, wearing shirts with slogans, and carrying signs outside the loanDepot Park in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood – a center of Cuban culture and the home of the Miami Marlins.

Outside loanDepot Park in Miami, Cubans protested against the country's current regime

Outside loanDepot Park in Miami, Cubans protested against the country’s current regime

The demonstrations came before Cuba’s World Baseball Classic semifinal against USA

One massive banner was held up by the Cuban exile community with the faces of children on

One massive banner was held up by the Cuban exile community with the faces of children on

Some signs branded the national team ‘traitors,’ others called for Fidel Castro supporters to get out of Miami, while others merely protested for ‘freedom.’

One unidentified man was spotted wearing a shirt with Castro’s face on with ‘murderer’ written underneath. 

One massive banner was held up by the Cuban exile community with the faces of children on, saying: ‘Castro, do you know these children? You should know them because you killed them.’

Miami’s Cuban population has become ingrained within the area’s culture and lifestyle. Over 1.5million Cuban-Americans live in Florida – with 850,000 living within Miami-Dade County alone. 

‘We’re condemning the Cuban dictatorship, not the Cuban baseball players,’ 68-year-old Ramon Saul Sánchez, who migrated to Miami more than 50 years ago, told the Miami Herald. ‘We’re here because this is a trap.’

One of the attendees to this game reportedly was denied entry because he was wearing a shirt with the Cuban flag and the phrase ‘Patria Y Vida’ – which translates to ‘Country and Life’ – a common phrase during the island’s 2021 protests, according to an independent journalist. 

Reports of his denied entry made their way to Cuban-American and Florida senator Marco Rubio, who called it, ‘outrageous’, ‘disgusting’, and ‘grotesque’.

However, DailyMail.com has reached out to Major League Baseball, who denied that fans had been barred from the stadium for wearing t-shirts bearing that slogan.

‘I am unaware of the circumstances surrounding this specific incident but we have not banned anyone from wearing Patria Y Vida shirts,’ an MLB spokesperson said.  

‘This is going to be a global event and if I have a chance to show the world how I feel I’m going to do it,’ 24-year-old Andrea Rodriguez told the Herald. ‘I’m excited to show them we don’t stand for the regime.’

According to the Washington Post, ‘MLB officials had braced for protest outside the stadium and accounted for the possibility that activists might try to buy seats in visible locations to hold protest signs where the world would see them.’

The Post also said that extra security followed the team to workouts and to the stadium. 

Some banners held up outside the ballpark branded the national team 'traitors'

Some banners held up outside the ballpark branded the national team ‘traitors’ 

One man was spotted wearing a shirt with Castro's face on with 'murderer' written underneath

One man was spotted wearing a shirt with Castro’s face on with ‘murderer’ written underneath

One sign read, 'Our freedom is not a fame,' as protestors held up placards and banners

One sign read, ‘Our freedom is not a fame,’ as protestors held up placards and banners

Some signs called for Fidel Castro supporters to get out of Miami and others for 'freedom'

Some signs called for Fidel Castro supporters to get out of Miami and others for ‘freedom’

Others held up the Cuban national flag with the words 'Patria y Vida' printed on

Others held up the Cuban national flag with the words ‘Patria y Vida’ printed on 

Protests before the game gave way to fans celebrating and eager to cheer on their country

Protests before the game gave way to fans celebrating and eager to cheer on their country

Politics aside, Cuba is led by two Chicago White Sox standouts: outfielder Luis Robert and switch-hitting third baseman Yoan Moncada. Robert, 25, has 40 doubles and 25 homers in 166 games over his past two major-league seasons. Moncada, 27, has three seasons with more than 30 doubles in his major-league career.

Outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, who hasn’t played in the majors since 2020, also will compete for Cuba.

But many other Cubans who are star major-leaguers have opted against playing for their native country, a list that includes closer Aroldis Chapman, first baseman Jose Abreu, designated hitter Yordan Alvarez, outfielder Jorge Soler and catcher Yasmani Grandal.

It seems obvious that defections to the U.S. have weakened Cuba’s talent pool through the years. For example, Cuba failed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021, and the country went 1-6 in last month’s Caribbean Series, finishing in last place among eight teams.

In addition, Cuba hasn’t been overly impressive in this year’s WBC, going 2-2 in pool play and then narrowly defeating Australia 4-3 on Wednesday to advance to the semifinals.

However, Cuba manager Armando Johnson will disagree with anyone who knocks his roster.

‘All the teams that get to this point in the tournament did so because of their own weight,’ Johnson said in Spanish. ‘I think we deserve respect.’

Certainly, Cuba has a great history in the Olympics, winning gold in 1992, 1996 and 2004 as well as silver medals in 2000 and 2008.

But since finishing second in the 2006 WBC, Cuba hasn’t placed no better than fifth.

A pro-Cuba crowd at the ballpark in Miami will surely be friendly towards 'Team Asere'

A pro-Cuba crowd at the ballpark in Miami will surely be friendly towards ‘Team Asere’

But the USA - with last night's hero Trea Turner (8) - will not make it an easy game for Cuba

But the USA – with last night’s hero Trea Turner (8) – will not make it an easy game for Cuba

On Sunday, the Cubans will face a loaded American lineup that includes right fielder Mookie Betts, center fielder Mike Trout, third baseman Nolan Arenado, catcher J.T. Realmuto, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, second baseman Tim Anderson, left fielder Kyle Tucker and designated hitters Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso.

The lineup is so deep that star shortstop Trea Turner bats in the nine hole.

Turner was the hero of the United States’ 9-7 win over previously unbeaten Venezuela on Saturday night. Turner hit a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning for what he called the biggest home run of his career.

‘That’s one of the greatest games I’ve ever been a part of,’ United States manager Mark DeRosa said. ‘Trea stepped up with an absolute bomb.’

Turner said the fans were electric on Saturday as Venezuela and the United States both had large rooting sections in the sold-out crowd of 35,000-plus, and things could get even rowdier on Sunday against Cuba.

‘We’ve been having team meetings, talking about how big this is for everybody — not just us but all sides,’ Turner said of the WBC. ‘We wanted to match (Venezuela’s) energy. We knew we would be basically playing on the road. The fans were electric.’

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