'Being Puerto Rican is not a crime'

On June 10 during the largest Puerto Rican Day Parade held in the U.S., the New York Police Department arrested 208 people, overwhelmingly Puerto Rican youth. At a press conference at One Police Plaza on June 17, the Justice Committee denounced the actions of the police. According to the committee’s press release, out of the 208 detained, 132 people were arrested for “unlawful assembly,” of whom 113 plead not guilty to this charge while the rest had their charges reduced to “disorderly conduct.”

On June 10 in Newburgh, N.Y., some 60 miles north of New York City, police viciously attacked a Puerto Rican Day block party. Police pepper-sprayed participants in the block party, including children, and confiscated video cameras showing the police attack. Residents were planning to raise complaints about this police riot at a June 11 city council meeting.

Panamá Vicente Alba, a union organizer and Justice Committee spokesperson, wrote an open letter following the massive police assault on the Puerto Rican community. Below are excerpts from that letter.

This past Sunday the 50th annual Puerto Rican Day Parade was held in New York City. Over the years it has become the largest expression of national/ethnic pride anywhere in the United States. This year’s parade was marred by an NYPD operation, which appeared to have targeted the Latin Kings.

It is impossible to attend a parade and not assemble either as participants or observers. This is the reason why whoever organizes a parade must obtain a parade permit, something which parade organizers do each and every year. In the United States freedom of expression guarantees the individual the right to wear any color desired.

In our community it is often said that “Pa’ los gustos se inventaron los colores” which equals “colors were invented to please taste.” In our community yellow/gold is a very popular color in the summer because it contrasts with the beautiful pigmentation of brown people’s skin.

The use of beads is also extremely popular in our community. They are worn as ornaments by men and women alike. This is particularly true of young people. Yes, the Latin Kings wear black and gold beads. Black and gold is not illegal, nor are beads, nor membership in the Latin Kings.

The use of beads is particularly prominent amongst the many thousands (perhaps millions) in our community who practice the Yoruba religion. Many such individuals were either arrested or ordered to remove their beads during this year’s Puerto Rican Day Parade.

Being Puerto Rican, Latin@, or a Latin King is not a crime. Are there criminals amongst us? Certainly, and so are there amongst Irish, Italians and others. So are there amongst the biggest gang in New York City—the New York City Police Department. If anyone has doubts, look at how many people’s rights they violated at the Puerto Rican Day Parade in the name of enforcing laws that do not exist.

Millions of people flock to the hundreds of floats carrying many popular entertainers and other prominent personalities. The day also has become a time for Puerto Ricans to celebrate our heritage at the parade and/or in our respective communities throughout the Tri-state area.

The historical clashes between the police at Sunset Park Brooklyn did not materialize in large part due to the presence of large numbers of activists on Cop Watch duty. Over the past few years, on the day of the Puerto Rican Day Parade, hundreds of police officers are reassigned to Sunset Park Brooklyn. Under a mobile command these cops awaited the return of parade goers. During the past three years many dozens of young people have been arrested, many beaten, particularly when the police attempt to enforce an illegal and unannounced curfew on the neighborhood.