Cuban exiles came by the thousands to Calle Ocho Saturday afternoon to affirm their decades-old message: The United States should make no deals with Fidel Castro.

During the march, which commemorated the 130th anniversary of Cuba's declaration of war for independence, exile leaders denounced what they described as a shameful softening in attitude toward the U.S. economic embargo on Cuba.

``Without a doubt, with the strength of our words and our voice united, we can force Washington to listen to us,'' said Armando Perez Roura of WAQI AM Radio Mambi at the end of the march at Fourth Avenue.

Leaders from eight Cuban exile groups passed out a proclamation titled ``Cuba at a Crossroads,'' rejecting any improvement in relations with the Cuban government and promising to continue fighting for the rights of Cubans on the island.

Perez Roura, who helped organize the march, pointed to the spring visit of the Canadian prime minister to Cuba as one sign of growing pressure on Clinton to lift the embargo.

Perez Roura and other broadcasters on Spanish-language radio had urged listeners to come out for the event, which became a fiesta-like outpouring of nationalist pride.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeb Bush showed up to shake hands and vow that he would use the state leadership position to pressure other politicians to strengthen the embargo.

``There is no reason to reward Fidel Castro for no efforts on his part,'' Bush said. ``We should be strengthening the embargo, not weakening it.''

Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas and Miami Mayor Joe Carrollo were among the elected officials who appeared.

Flag-waving children wearing blue and white school uniforms from the Lincoln Marti Schools marched in front of militant exile group members, clad in camouflage battle fatigues and berets.

Some participants literally wore their emotions on their sleeves -- either black armbands or armbands proclaiming allegiance to Brigade 2506, the association of Bay of Pigs veterans.

Vendors hawked hot dogs and sodas, Cuban and American flags, keychains and small toys as the sounds of salsa and merengue music echoed through the streets from the stores on Calle Ocho.

``I miss my country and I want to return, but not while Castro is in power,'' said Gloria del Viso, 60, who pushed a cart with a mannequin dressed in a Cuban flag and chains on each hand.

About 70 police officers blocked off access to the street from 22nd Avenue to Fourth Avenue, said Miami City Assistant Police Chief Raul Martinez, who also said event organizers were not charged for the security services.

Neither Martinez nor event organizers would estimate the size of the crowd.

The parade-like atmosphere contrasted with the scene earlier that morning at Bicentennial Park on Biscayne Boulevard, where a couple of dozen anti-embargo demonstrators modestly made their message: Lift the economic embargo now.

``We are but a few here in Miami, but there are millions throughout the world who support the idea of a Cuba free of the tyranny of the United States,'' said Andres Gomez, head of the Antonio Maceo Brigade.

Few people were actually able to hear the message live, as about 50 police officers blocked pedestrian and car access to the normally bustling downtown thoroughfare from Northeast 11th Street to Northeast 15th Street.

The group dispersed a little after 10:30 a.m., after police officers notified them that they would no longer be offering them protection.