MIAMI - Cuban-Americans upset over the Elian Gonzalez case called for a general strike that would turn Miami into a ''dead city'' Tuesday, leading dozens of businesses to announce plans to close.
Protesters pledged Monday to shut Miami down quietly, in contrast to the violent protests that broke out when armed federal agents grabbed the 6-year-old boy from his Miami relatives' house before dawn Saturday and brought him to his father.
The call for a strike left Miami Mayor Joe Carollo and Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas in a delicate spot. Both had vocally supported months of protests and criticized the federal government's handling of the case. But they tiptoed around condoning a shutdown of the city, and officials promised that life would go on as usual Tuesday.
''People need to vent, people are very emotional, they feel very strongly about what happened and they want to express themselves,'' Penelas said, calling the strike a ''show of maturity'' because it would make a peaceful statement.
Penelas also said he would meet with up to 80 community leaders Monday night. Carollo did not return phone calls Monday.
''They're caught in a trap, and they're trying to do a balancing act,'' said Max Castro, a sociologist at the University of Miami's North-South Center. ''It's not that bad a tradeoff, as long as the basic services are maintained.''
Officials with the Miami airport, the Port of Miami, law enforcement, schools and several banks all said operations would continue, though they acknowledged nonessential workers may take personal days. Many non-Cuban businesses also said they expected no interruptions in service.
''Tomorrow is a business-as-usual day,'' said Miami City Manager Donald Warshaw.
But many businesses, especially in Little Havana, announced they would shut their doors Tuesday. Cuban-Americans are the largest ethnic group in Miami-Dade County, with 800,000 people - the nation's largest Cuban population.
The 150 employees and 40 trucks in Miami for Goya Foods, a Hispanic food distributor, will be out of service, said Rudy Quant, director of public relations. ''This is in solidarity,'' he said.
Pharmacies, groceries and furniture stores were among the other businesses that promised to shut down. Many announcements came over Spanish-language radio.
Several workers on Little Havana's Calle Ocho and demonstrators outside the Gonzalez house said Tuesday would be a day of protest.
''I am going to be out there with my people supporting them,'' said Angel Pina, a 39-year-old graphics designer who lives near the home. ''I spoke to my boss and my boss said that's OK.''
The owner of the El Paisa Cafeteria, a few blocks from the Gonzalez home, said he felt pressured to go along with the strike but would keep the restaurant open.
''I am Hispanic, but that doesn't mean I have to agree,'' said the owner, who said he was Nicaraguan but would not give his full name. ''I have to pay my rent, I have to pay my bills.''
Also Monday, the four Miami mediators who failed to broker a last-minute deal between the boy's relatives and the government said they hoped to salvage parts of their plan.
The mediators said they hoped the Miami relatives could live with Elian and his father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez, at a neutral site for up to a week. ''That would help the family members get together and do what is in the best interest of the child,'' said Edward T. Foote II, president of the University of Miami.
Attorney General Janet Reno was considering the suggestion, said another mediator, local attorney Aaron Podhurst. The Justice Department did not immediately return a call on the matter Monday.