By Sue Anne Pressley and April Witt
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday , April 20, 2000 ; A14

MIAMI, April 19 –– In the streets outside the Little Havana house where Elian Gonzalez has been living, jubilant
demonstrators who have sacrificed sleep, work and home life to fight for the 6-year-old's continued stay in the United States
felt vindicated today: They had fought the intimidating forces of the federal government and won, at least for now.

With cries of "Thank you, God" and "God bless America," many burst into tears as soon as the favorable decision by the 11th
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was announced, ordering the boy to remain here as his political asylum case is appealed.
Well-wishers rushed to hug Elian's great-uncle Lazaro Gonzalez, who has since last week defied the federal order to surrender
the boy to his Cuban father. And a group of 100 protesters who had protectively encircled the house to ward off federal
authorities felt secure enough--for a moment anyway--to break formation and march triumphantly down the street behind a sign
denouncing Attorney General Janet Reno.

Flush with victory, and evoking biblical images of David besting the giant Goliath with a slingshot, they said their resolve has
only been strengthened, their energies recharged. They will continue to fight for as long as it takes to ensure that Elian will never
return to Cuba.

"Fidel is going to have a heart attack today," said social worker Rafael Penalever about the Cuban president who has
demanded Elian's return. "The Cuban people in Miami are joined at this moment, and nobody can take Elian back.

"The Cubans are going to blockade the streets and blockade the airport for months if that is what it takes--there are many bad
things that will happen if they try to take Elian from us."

At first, confusion reigned, as many of the people keeping vigil outside the house seemed to interpret the ruling as confirmation
that the major battle was won and that Elian would not be going back to Cuba at all. Street vendors immediately displayed a
new line of red, white and blue T-shirts that said, "Elian Lives in America Now."

But gradually, the realization dawned that there is nothing to prevent officials with the Immigration and Naturalization Service
from coming to take the boy to Juan Miguel Gonzalez, his father waiting in Washington. And, although the celebration
continued, it was with a feeling that all guards must remain up.

"No one should make predictions on the ultimate outcome based on this order," said Miami family attorney Kendall Coffey,
speaking to the growing hordes of protesters and reporters outside the house. "The family is very grateful for the obviously
serious concern and study that is being received, but this is a preliminary order, it is not a final decision. . . . We call upon the
INS to take no precipitous action between now and the time this appeal is heard. Because it is so clear that the rights of a child
have to be heard without further disruption, without further dislocation, without further trauma of any sort."

The family received the news today "tearfully and with prayer," he said. "Recent days have been very difficult, days of
unrelenting pressure from every source," he said. "But they stood courageously."

Speaking through an interpreter, Lazaro Gonzalez said that "the Gonzalez family continues to believe in the laws of the United
States and we will continue to pray . . . that Elian will remain here where his mother wanted him to be, in a country of freedom."

The family has been keeping the child since his rescue off the South Florida coast on Thanksgiving Day, one of three survivors
of a shipwreck in which his mother and nine others drowned. Since last week, the five-month saga has taken on a new urgency,
as Lazaro Gonzalez refused to give up the boy and federal officials refused to back down from their plans to come and get him,
by force if need be.

It was unclear what might happen next, in terms of the boy's transfer to his father. Although police here were busy reinforcing
barricades around the neighborhood, several said it was unlikely that any federal authorities would come to get the boy this
evening with the crowd so large and the traffic snarled by revelers.

The celebration continued to grow, despite the uncertainties. A honking motorcade crawled through the streets of Little
Havana, and children hung out the windows of a school bus, shouting, "Viva Cuba Libre"--long live free Cuba. Many in the
crowd dabbed at tears as the anti-government feelings of the past few days seemed to be replaced by a patriotic fervor;
American flag pins appeared on lapels and someone began singing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."

About the only dissenting voice to be found was high above, on a banner trailing a small plane. "Send Elian Home--The
Taxpayers," it said. Recent news reports have estimated that the dispute has cost local governments here more than $1 million
in police overtime pay and other expenses.

As those around him hugged and cheered, Humberto Perez shared the elation, but not the sentiment that the worst might be
over. One of the first paratroopers to land in Cuba during the failed Bay of Pigs invasion 39 years ago, and a veteran of two
tours in Vietnam, he is not ready to declare a final victory--or a peaceful end to the ordeal.

"The boxing match is 12 rounds. This is the 10th round and this one is in favor of us," Perez said. "Justice and the law are two
different things. I'm here now for justice, not for the law. I respect the laws of this country. . . . [But] the veterans of the Bay of
Pigs are here . . . to protect the child. It's that simple."

Special correspondent Catharine Skipp in Miami contributed to this report.

                                 © 2000 The Washington Post Company