It’s a blessing that Castro is out, says Cuban-American Ana Crespo from her home in Tampa. But she said she still worries about the future of Cuba because Castro’s brother, Raul, who is now in charge, is just as bad about suppressing voices of opposition.

“I don’t think he has any intention of going toward democracy and respect for human rights,” she says. “He will not do anything about fixing the problems of poverty and the problem of freedom of expression.”

She says she is hoping and praying for her home country, where she was a teacher. “Too many people have been killed. Too many people have been imprisoned. It’s time for that to stop,” she says. “But until I see freedom to the dissidents, until you can speak your mind out, we cannot predict anything, ... It’s very sad, and it’s just a big question mark.”

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