Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Elian Gonzalez April 22, 2000

Elian Gonzalez seized from his Miami home, April 22, 2000


Uploaded on Dec 10, 2010
from "Elian is in Washington, DC and talked with father on phone", MSNBC Breaking News (April 22, 2000)


26 comments:

Karina_D said...

Oh I remember this. A big ado about nothing! Another example of the media sensationalizing a story.

Karina Del Campo
PID: 1686300

Unknown said...

I remember seeing this kid on the news all day back when I was a kid myself. I still do not understand the took his story as a never ending conversation. I feel that if a father wanted his kid the government could have brought him to Miami to get Elian Gonzalez. Those men that raided his home and snatched the kid who had no idea of what was going on are just digusting. A man who saves a child in middle of the sea is a hero.

Kevin Kohler said...

I remember Elian Gonzalez well, but it was from a different perspective than other people from Miami. At the time, I was living at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. During the whole ordeal, I would pay some attention to it but listening to the national media, I thought that in the end the father should deserve to raise his son even if he was in Cuba.
After the government seized Elian and took him away, they brought him to Andrews Air Force base and actually housed him in a temporary officers housing unit on the street where I lived. One day I was walking to the gym and the little boy Elian was outside playing with a red bouncy ball on the sidewalk, surrounded by about 5 US Marshals. I walked over to him, said hi, and we pushed the ball between each other for about 5 minutes, then one of the marshals asked me to move along. Elian seemed content and not nervous in any way. blissfully playing with his ball. Later the next day his relatives from Miami flew in to see him and there was a big protest off base at the main gate. By big I mean maybe 150 people, with 40 of them being press. The relatives tried getting on base, but were denied entry if I recall. I was in a photography class at my high school so I went to the protest and took pictures of the action. Being a young high school student I didn't grasp the situation and just went because it was something exciting....In the end Elian has been used as a tool for Cuban government propaganda, so for that it is disheartening.

Unknown said...

I do agree with what Kevin is saying. On one hand, I think Elian should be with his father and he even said it in the 60 minute interview that that is what he wanted. Also, I think it was all for the Miami relatives to get their time in the spotlight and I think that's disheartening.

Unknown said...

There is bias just by living in Miami, or having prior knowledge of the matter at hand. That being said the post gives an informing point of view on the Elian Gonzalez case and the failure of the Clinton administration. It can be understood that the agents came in with aggression and behaved as if they were raiding a home in the middle east or a drug dealers home. That is due to their profession dealing with majority criminals and low lives. The man who was housing Elain was out spoken and unarguably intelligent while holding a good case in his defense. To say whether Elain should have gone home to his father or stayed in Miami is a sad political debate. To of treated the boy and his foster parent as criminals is the true crime in the matter.

Christopher Ingham said...

I never knew about this topic until you told us Professor. I felt as though the boy should have stayed in the States to pursue a better life.

Chasity Daguillard said...

I wasn't in Miami when this happened so I don't have prior knowledge to what happened. But I believe if his father is a good person and is financially capable of taking care of Elian then he should be allowed to have him.Yes, the raid was a little to aggressive especially being that there is a young child present.

Ashley Lowd said...

I was too young to remember this, but I asked my mom about it and she said she recalls it so well. It's just another horrible example of police on citizen abuse/brutality that needs to stop.

David Castilla said...

This was an interesting case, that I had no clue about until you mentioned it in class. It sucks that it had to come to police force to forcibly remove this kid. I am conflicted about this, but the police using force was an over reaction for sure.

John Bryan001 said...

It is scary to believe that stuff like this went on in the United States. Hopefully this video will help history not repeat itself.

Sebastian Gonzalez said...

I was too young to remember this as it happened so mentioning this in class was the first time I heard of this. It's a shame this came to force, but at least no one got hurt. Also I believe Elian going with his father was the right decision even if it helped Cuba at the time.

Bianca Zevallos said...

This video was very eyeopening and truthful. So many different topics brought to my attention, very informative. I grasped so much information that I didn't know before and learned more about the topics I knew something about.

Unknown said...

Truly saddening vide but this is how things are handled and have been handled in the U.S. But the worst part in my opinion is the reporter sided with the drastic measures the FBI took in handling the situation.

Unknown said...

I agree with John this is scary to believe. It's shocking.

Dragana Visnjic said...

I never heard about this story before, probably because at that time I was not in the United States, but it is very sad to see how Miami police were too aggressive in the company of the small child. Very shocking...

Unknown said...

OMG... This is scary. This is my first time that I heard this news. It's sad to see the force happened to them.

mgarcia said...

Wow, I am in pure disbelief. The fact that this actually went on in our country is truly terrifying.

Unknown said...

Democrats care so much about immigrants...

J. Polycar said...

This is my first time hearing this news and it is indeed scary specially when seeing how those who swore to protect and serve deal with such situation.

Bianca Campillo said...

Even though I was very young at the time this occurred, it is still very sad to see how public this incident was. It is clear that, then and now, the media plays a large part of our lives.

Unknown said...

I am in utter and complete shock, I cannot believe that this happens all of the time, and even though it is blasted on the media, it still continues to happen all of the time. I almost cried upon hearing the pain and sadness in the father's voice, it was so heartwrenching.

Unknown said...

This was truly a violation of privacy. It makes me so sad to hear stories of injustice like that of young Elian. The voice of Donato show fear but it is impressive how he says that he still loves America. Intense video
-Enza Russoniello

Unknown said...

I have never heard this story before. so scary and shocking.

Amer T said...

Sad to see this happen in a country like the US

Rolando Martinez said...

Rolando Martinez
Wow, this is the first I hear of this and I am shocked to see that

FranciiRomana said...

Wow. This video had me in tears. I do not recall this story, but it reminds me of so many others where police take unnecessary aggressive action. Not only was this a violation of privacy, but it clearly demonstrates violence. Us, Americans, are expected to act calmly and in a respectful manner, but how could people understand that when the very people that are supposed to give us the perfect example, show us the complete opposite. What a disgrace! Aside from this, I do not believe this just happens in the U.S, or Miami, I believe this happens EVERYWHERE in the world. People take advantage of their title. That needs to end.