From the looks of things in Union City, Elian Gonzalez could be the boy running down the street with his friends, or the 6-year old buying milk at the bodega. He could very well be the son of every mother in the city that is home to the second largest Cuban-American Community in the United States. Union City is second in Cuban-American population only to the community of more than 80,000 known as “Little Havana” in Miami, Florida. That community, located more than 1,070 miles away, has seemed closer than usual during the past few weeks. The tie has been a 6-year old boy that most Americans now identify simply as “Elian.” He is the lone survivor of a tragic attempt at sea to enter the United States illegally from Cuba in November with his mother and 10 others. After initially being placed in the custody of his Miami relatives, the boy has been involved in a political tug-of-war. Last weekend, the federal government raided the relatives’ home in order to capture the boy and bring him to Maryland, where his father, a citizen of Cuba, awaited him. U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, who has the support of President Clinton, had been determined to reunite the boy with his father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez. Juan Miguel had been granted permission from Cuban President Fidel Castro to enter the U.S. and will most likely return to his native country with his son if U.S. courts rule in his favor. Pulling just as hard on the other side were the Miami relatives, including Lazaro Gonzalez and his daughter, Marisleysis, who would like Elian to stay in the U.S. Last weekend’s raid came under heavy controversy, particularly after an Associated Press photo taken at the scene of the removal depicted a U.S. Marshal pointing a machine gun at a terrified-looking Elian in the arms of the fisherman who rescued him from sea. Many have compared this event to the Waco and Ruby Ridge raids, where many Americans lost their lives after showdowns with the U.S. government. But no one was injured during the removal of Elian from the Miami home despite crowds of hundreds that had vowed the child would be removed only over their dead bodies. Protests In Miami, thousands filled the streets for continuous days of protest armed with Cuban flags, signs and clothing apparel imprinted with Elian’s image. Other images of protestors blocking traffic and shouting while surrounded by police and reporters are similar to protests that have occurred in Union City recently. Last weekend, a spontaneous combustion of anger and frustration sparked hundreds of Cuban-Americans from Union City and surrounding areas to drop everything and take to the streets to protest the raid. They marched down Kennedy Boulevard, some of Bergenline Avenue and up to West New York on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Some also blocked the Lincoln Tunnel. There also have been caravans of more than 18 honking cars proceeding through city streets on various days. Some were organized and some were spur-of-the-moment. Some city residents numbering nearly 300, including Mayor Raul Garcia, who had met with Elian a few weeks earlier, had gone so far as to venture to Washington, D.C., where they protested in front of the White House. Changing community And although many say Union City is not what it once was, losing many of its Cuban-Americans to places like Florida after an influx of immigrants from Central and South America, the community for the most part has shown solidarity during the Elian controversy. Indeed, despite the city’s dispersion of its Cuban-American community, there is still heavy Cuban-American influence in local government. Most prominent among Cuban-American city and nearby municipality officials are Union City Mayor Rudy Garcia, West New York Mayor Albio Sires and Congressman Bob Menendez (D-13th Dist.) Garcia and Menendez have been the most vocal of the group in denouncing U.S. government actions and supporting Elian’s stay in the U.S. Locally, congressional candidate Hal Turner went as far as to say the Miami relatives should have shot the federal agents during the raid. (See sidebar, “Candidates diverge.”) Menendez has been actively pushing legislation for Elian’s political asylum here in the U.S., but said the success of that legislation rests in the hands of Republicans who hold a majority in the House. But while most city residents are in support of having Elian remain in the U.S., there are still dissenters, though silent, that believe the U.S. had been patient enough in trying to work out a deal with the Miami relatives before it used force. Diverse opinions Last Tuesday’s sunny break from a succession of rainy days brought more city residents outdoors and more Cuban flags waving through the streets. Most residents seemed uneasy when the boy’s name was mentioned but willingly spoke their minds concerning the April 22 raid. Most agreed that Elian should remain in the U.S. given the alternative of having him returned to a Communist society with an iron-fist ruler like Castro. But many disagreed when asked if the boy should have been reunited with his father, with some saying that he should have been and others agreeing only if the father intends to remain in the U.S. Leaning on the counter inside M & K Grocery Store on 36th Street in Union City, Marcos Brito said he came to the U.S. from Cuba 26 years ago because he had no choice. Brito said he had served in the Cuban military against his will and escaped to the U.S. for fear of his life. He said the U.S. had offered him a new life and opportunities, but stopped short of excessive praise. “The exiled Cubans here feel betrayed by the U.S. government,” he said, concerning their use of force in removing Elian. “[Reno and Clinton] are cowards.” Translating for Brito, who spoke no English, was the store’s owner, Rolando Amaya, who came from El Salvador 20 years ago. Amaya also disagreed with the force used by the U.S. government, but believed the boy should have been reunited with his father only on the condition that the father remain in the U.S. A few stores down is a wedding shop owned by Arecia Hernandez who came from Cuba when she was only 10 years old. “I think it was too much force,” Hernandez said. “But I think the boy does belong with his father but they should stay in the U.S. Castro has already said he would de-program him. If they return [Elian], his mother would have died for nothing,” she said. “I think if he goes back . . . he’s going to be the next Castro. He will be a part of that Cuban world. [Elian] belongs to his father but his father belongs to Fidel and once the child returns he will be in Fidel’s custody.” Hernandez said she believes some Cuban-Americans are hypocrites because they still support communism by spending money on ill-advised visits back to Cuba. “It all goes back to Castro because in Cuba people have nothing. I’m disappointed in ourselves sometimes.” One Union City resident from Columbia stood at a Bergenline corner handing out Bibles to passers-by. He said he agrees with the recent protest by his fellow residents because protests are necessary for a healthy democracy. He also said he agrees that the boy should have been reunited with his father and should remain in the U.S. “But the U.S. used force that was necessary,” he said. “They had tried every other alternative.” Mercedes Migenes owns “La Gran Via,” a Spanish-American restaurant featuring a large Cuban flag in its window. Migenes came from Cuba 16 years ago and has never once thought about returning, although she still has a brother there. She said she had very little opportunities in Cuba. “I finished high school and then they put me to work in the country fields to pick potatoes,” she said. “The boy should stay in this county where he will have freedom and better opportunities. This is just politics for Fidel.” Inside another restaurant with a Cuban flag proudly displayed in its window, Jose Manuel Alvarez, district director of the 13th Congressional District, stopped to get a coffee. He said Elian should have been reunited with his father but questioned the father’s sincerity in wanting to have his son back. “He comes here and instead of going to see his son he goes to Washington instead,” Alvarez said. “I think any father would have wanted to first hug his child after knowing what that kid has been through.” Alvarez said he came to the U.S. in 1962, one year after the Bay of Pigs invasion, but recalls the atmosphere in Cuba at the time. The invasion was an U.S.-backed attempt by Cuban exiles to overthrow the Castro regime. Alvarez was 10 or 11 years old at the time and lived in a “loving” middle-class community. “Those were the true revolutionary years. That community was transformed into one of distrust and hatred. You didn’t know if your neighbors would turn you in if you said something against Castro. The conditions there are still horrendous. There is very little love left in Cuba,” he said. Alvarez said after he requested to witness a firing squad because it was a form of entertainment, his father decided to leave for the U.S. If Elian should return, said Alvarez, he would live an isolated and controlled life. “Castro cannot ever allow this little boy to say he had a good time in Miami,” Alvarez said. But even if Elian were returned to such conditions, Alvarez does not believe Elian would become the next Castro. “He has been infected with freedom and with seeing a better life. He has seen the other side.” Elian and his immediate family are now at Carmichael Farm in rural Maryland. A May 11 court hearing will decide whether Elian can apply for political asylum. But the U.S. government said that for Elian to prove he is eligible for asylum, he must “prove that he suffered past persecution or will suffer future persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular group, or political opinion.” Candidates diverge Republican congressional hopeful Hal Turner of North Bergen says the raid on the Miami home of Elian Gonzalez should have turned out differently last Saturday. “I think those federal agents should have been shot as they entered the house,” said Turner last week in the candid fashion that has marked his G.O.P. candidacy. “If any armed intruders kicked in my front door, I would shoot to kill. I would have shot them.” Turner added, “I’ve just seen the liberal retort to compassionate conservatism. With compassionate liberalism they set a gun in your face but hey, the finger wasn’t planted on the trigger.” Turner’s opponent for the seat, incumbent Congressman Robert Menendez, also opposed the raid but did not advocate any violence. Turner, who refers to U.S. Marshals as “jack-booted thugs,” also compares them to “Nazi Storm troopers.” He said that although U.S. marshals were under orders, there is no excuse for their actions. “Ve vere just following orders,” Turner mocked in a German accent. “People do not have to follow illegal orders and in fact they have an obligation not to follow illegal orders. We established that at the end of World War II.” Turner said that while he realizes there is a chain of command, he does not believe Pres. Clinton or Attorney General Janet Reno should also be shot. But Turner said there is certainly grounds for a second impeachment. “If Clinton does not fire [Reno], then Congress should impeach him again, and let’s get it right this time,” said Turner. Garcia and Menendez respond Congressman Bob Menendez (D-13 Dist.) supports having Elian permanently remain in the U.S. and has criticized the U.S. government’s role in the raid. But Menendez, who is seeking his fifth term in congress, said such a statement by Turner is going too far. “That’s outrageous,” said Menendez last week. “Federal officers only do what they are told to do by their superiors. The raid was unnecessary but I do not believe any violence should have been taken place against the officers or the Gonzalez family.” However, Menendez does agree with Turner and many others who have compared the raid to Waco and Ruby Ridge. “The question should really be whether force was needed at all,” Menendez said. “This is not about a drug raid, a terrorist or gun toting people. We should examine how the federal government uses its power in such situations.” Union City Mayor Rudy Garcia also shared his opinion on the subject of the U.S. marshal raid. “We witnessed probably one of the most unnecessary use of force that I’ve ever seen. It was totally inappropriate to raid the house with assault weapons drawn to a child. This is something that happens in Communist China, in Russia, not the United States,” he said. Turner said he would have agreed with the government’s use of force only if the Miami family had refused several front door attempts. Turner also recently gave up on attempts to gather and make public the names, addresses and phone numbers of those U.S. Marshals involved in the raid, because it was “a waste of [his] campaign time.” Turner said he might not even run for 13th District representative anymore because the Hudson County Republican Commission is alleging that his petition signatures are fraudulent. He said a judge has already ruled that the signatures were legitimate, but the commission is looking to appeal that decision.