Cuban-born Florida businessman Maximo Alvarez gave an emotional speech on night one of the Republican National Convention Monday urging Americans to "choose freedom over oppression."
Alvarez is the founder of Sunshine Gasoline Distributors and fled Cuba with his parents at age 13.
In the speech, Alvarez likened the Democratic platform to that of former Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.
"I have seen people like this before, I've seen movements like this before, I've seen ideas like this before," Alvarez said. "I am here to tell you we cannot let them take over our country. I heard the promises of Fidel Castro, and I can never forget all those who grew up around me, who look like me, who suffered, starved and died because they believed those empty promises."
"Those false promises...spread the wealth, free education, free healthcare, defund the police, trust the socialist state more than your family and your community? They don't sound radical to my ears, they sound familiar," Alvarez continued.
The RNC continues Tuesday night when First lady Melania Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are scheduled to speak.
