The plaza lies between the seafront Malecón, Calzada Avenue and N and M streets in Vedado in Havana. The first demonstration there was an anti-American protest over the custody of Elián González, a six-year-old Cuban boy at the time. This event was part of the Cuban efforts to have Elián returned to Cuba and his father, a movement that was ultimately successful in June that year. The site of the protest would be the location for dozens of government-led rallies in years to come. Information about the previous use of the land or the different construction projects on the land is scarce; however, some important details can be seen in an aerial shot. For example, the design shown in the undated picture shows a giant star made into the ground, with the plaza's stage at the center. The red point of the star that points straight to the U.S. Embassy a few hundred feet away is most clear.