Cuban Dissident Arrives to Hero's Welcome in Miami
Ariel Sigler was allowed to come to Miami for medical treatment after spending years in a Cuban prison
By TODD WRIGHT
Updated 7:26 PM EDT, Wed, Jul 28, 2010
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Chants of "Free Cuba" filled the terminal at Miami International Airport as a recently freed Cuban political prisoner was wheeled of a flight from Cuba Wednesday.
Ariel Sigler held a Cuban flag in one hand and an American flag in the other as he was greeted by hundreds of Cuban-Americans, who knew his tale of struggle and endurance.
Sigler was among 75 opposition activists rounded up in March 2003 and charged with taking money from Washington to destabilize Cuba's government. Those imprisoned denied that, as did U.S. officials.
The Castros decided earlier this month to free many of the dissidents in what amounts to the largest government-approved mass exodus from the Communist country in decades.
Sigler served more than seven years of a 25-year sentence for treason. He went to prison an athlete and boxer, but paralysis that occurred while behind bars requires him to use to a wheelchair.
He was admitted to Jackson Memorial Hospital for evaluation, but before he left the airport Sigler joined those who welcomed him in singing the Cuban National Anthem.
He then gave a spirited speech and put on two boxing gloves with the Cuban symbol on them to show that even in his weakened state, he is still a fighter.
Miami Mayor Tomas Regelado, whose parents were Cuban immigrants, was also in attendance at the moving ceremony.
"I think this picture is worth a thousand words," he said. "This is a message being sent around the world about what's going on in Cuba."
First Published: Jul 28, 2010 5:10 PM EDT
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