NORFOLK, Neb. -- Families in Norfolk gathered to support the liberation of Cuba from internet censorship and strict government.
"We want freedom for our family," said Yusleine Ramirez, organizer of the protest in front of Walgreens in Norfolk.
She and Elias Noa posted on social media four days prior, asking people to show up in solidarity for their loved ones in Cuba. Not only did it rake in several Cuban-American families in the area, but friends, coworkers and passers-by joined in.

"This all started once Cuba started protesting, unfortunately, they can't do that they get killed or put in jail, so we show support in the U.S. where we have freedom of speech," said Noa.

He wants to see the U.S. step up to the plate by sending either supplies or defense.

"Russia has intervened and Venezuela has intervened and all they're doing is killing [...] we don't need help with the military but we do need help with food, medicine, any small thing, president meetings," Noa said.

Others asked for more direct military action from the U.S.

"Necestito el poder del gobierno Estados Unidos para un intervencion militad [We need the power of the U.S. government to militarily intervene]," said Jose Bastida, a Cuban-American protestor.

Regardless of methods, families ultimately want their loved ones to be safe at last.

"My parents are Cuban and I'm American and I want people in Cuba to be saved," said Yindra Orta Armas, a 6 year old.

Many of the protestors in Norfolk have families in Cuba who they can't even talk to right now because Cuba limits the internet. One protestor said as a child in Cuba, she was taught by her grandmother never talk bad about the government. Now in Nebraska, she just wants to be able to talk to her grandmother again.

Meanwhile, younger Cuban Americans in Nebraska are not able to have a close relationship with their grandparents because of the censorship.

"Honestly, I'm mad with the government; this government and their government," said Matthew Leon, 11 years old.

Matthew has grandparents and cousins in Cuba facing struggles with food access and aggressive governing. Many echoed the hope that the demonstration this weekend, exercising American rights, would help Cubans one day also have similar freedoms

"That's what it's really about [...] I'm hoping for a spotlight of what's going on with the incarcerations they just want a life that we want here in America with the right to peaceful assembly," said Brandon Schneider, a protestor.

While the protest consisted of signs, singing and standing on the sidewalk -- one passing car did try to initiate trouble.

NCN's reporter was in the middle of an interview when a man shouted "What are you mad about?" The reporter continued the interview until the source and reporter realized he had pulled into the Walgreens and was walking over to them, shouting "This is America." The man became so aggressive that the reporter had to move her camera away and call police.