. . a man seeking asylum rammed a bus in the peruvian embassy is -- through the embassy led , 10,000 asylum seeker enter the embassy grounds. relieve the crisis, on april 20, 1980, the cuban government stated that anyone who wanted lead could do so through the port of mariel. over the next six months

approximately 125,000 cubans traveled to key west, florida. ♪ ♪ >> in less than 90 days between april and june of 1980 one and 110,000 cubans fleed cuba. they come from the port of mariel to key west, florida in nearly 2000 boats.

♪ 25 die in the attempt. ♪ [clapping]

>> why did they come? why are there so many? how do they feel? ♪

♪ an ♪

♪ >> the exodus begins on april 14, 1980 when the government of cuba removes its guards from the peruvian embassy in havana. within 24 hours, 10,000 people jam the embassy. ♪

>> while thousands wait inside the compound, cuba's government holds massive demonstrations against those who wish to leave.

♪ >> for a few days it seems as though a whole country wants to flee. >> how did they manage to leave?

a 26-year-old doctor tells his story. >> may 2, 1980, havana.

nearly 400 persons, mostly former political prisoners, hold protests outside of the united states interests section. -- way to process their visas outside the united states interests section. ♪ ♪

>> the refugees arrive at temporary centers in the united states. a new life. a new hope. ♪ >> a cuban poet and educator

comments on some aspects of his homeland. >> among those who flee is this

writer. the author of "hallucinations" is perhaps the best-known of the young cuban novelists. >> a technician from the

electrical plant in mariel. ♪ >> after the ordeal comes

tranquility. new perspectives and new opportunities for self-expression.

♪ >> the airport in miami,

florida. here begins the final processing in the united states for thousands of newly arrived cubans. hundreds of volunteers join public and private groups in helping them. >> left behind are the memories, the anguish, the people. now is the hour to begin again. ♪

[captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2015] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] ♪

announcer: next on american history tv, a conversation with the president of the organization of american historians, jon butler. currently writing a book on religion in urban areas, mr. butler sat down with us to talk about religion in 20th century new york city and talked to us about misconceptions on the subject. he was interviewed this year in providence, rhode island. >> jon butler, you are writing a book called "god ith