September 2007 English - La Voz del Paseo Boricua

From Paseo Boricua
to Puerto Rico
IPRAC:
A Visit to the Island
Barrio Arts Fest
in Humboldt Park
page 3
page 4
Free “Humboldt Park is Not for Sale!”
Show your pride for your community,
Bilingual
place the centerfold on your window!
Gratis
Page 12-13
La Voz del Paseo Boricua
[email protected]
www.prcc-chgo.org
September
2007
Vol. 4 • No. 6
Informing and Advocating for the Preservation of our “Pedacito de Patria” in Chicago
Ald. Billy Ocasio and the Puerto Rican Cultural Center
Invite you to Celebrate the
14 Annual Fiesta Boricua
th
Ald. Billy Ocasio and the Juan Antonio Corretjer Puerto
Rican Cultural Center in collaboration with the Division
Street Business Development Association extend
a warm invitation to the community to gather
in celebration of the 14th Fiesta Boricua.
This Sunday, September 2, from 11am8pm, with the work of Ocasio, we
have added a new dimension to Fiesta Boricua-- “ We have invited the
churches New Life Covenant and
Rebaño Compañerismo Cristiano,
Willie Maldonado Ministries to celebrate their Sunday services and in
that way begin Fiesta Boricua with an
array of Christian music.”
Fiesta Boricua represents a collection of the
best and most exquisite of our Puerto Ricanness.
This year, the organizers of this spectacular event hope to
blow this one out of the park. You can count on performances from the most important artists from a variety of musical
genres, including the “Pavarotti of Salsa,” Tito Nieves, the
legendary figure from la Nueva Trova, Roy Brown, accompanied by renowned singer, Tito Auger, the electrifying lyricism
Elvira Arellano Deported:
Puerto Rican Community
Continues to Support the Struggle
of Undocumented Immigrants
Jodene Velázquez
After a year on Paseo Boricua, the courageous Elvira
Arellano made public she
would leave the sanctuary of
Adalberto United Methodist Church on August 15, in
order to attempt to break the
legislative deadlock imposed
on the immigration freedom
movement. As predicted,
the raids, deportations, and
separation of families have
been increasing at a furious
rate with a twofold purpose:
to intimidate the immigration
rights movement, in particular, the 12 million undocumented workers and their families, and thereby pass a very reElvira Arellano ... continued on page 4
of reggaeton artist Voltio, and the poetic and socially critical
voice of MC SieteNueve accompanied by DJ Velcro. There
will also be other types of music including merengue,
bachata, and bomba y plena.
During Fiesta Boricua, those present will
immerse themselves in a quintessentially
Boricua experience: savoring the best of
our criolla kitchen and delighting in the
best examples of Puerto Rican artisanry
– including the aroma of Café Cibales
in the Ciales’ Agro-Comercial Cooperative kiosk.
Governor Blagojevich and the Department
of Human Services will sponsor a corridor
where children will be able to take physical exams for the upcoming school year.
Without a doubt, the 14th annual Fiesta Boricua will supersede all of your expectations. Let’s enjoy a safe and secure
environment with our families. For more information, please
call the Puerto Rican Cultural Center: 773-342-8023.
Fíjate
For more turn to pages 6-7...
Xavier “Xavi” Luis Burgos
Without YOU,
A Puerto Rican
Humboldt Park Will Be Lost!
Gentrification is a process that pushes working-class families
of color, like Puerto Ricans, out of their community due to
increasing rents and property taxes caused by development
targeting upper-class (mostly white) professionals.
“Do you think we can beat gentrification, or are you just
being hopeful?,” asks lifetime Humboldt Park resident Angela Reyes, 30, with a smile and open ears. The question
lingers in my mind as I think back to a recent trip to Juncos,
Puerto Rico, where I was amazed by how much my family
knew about Humboldt Park and Paseo Boricua. “I used to
own a laundry mat on Division and Spaulding back in the
‘60s,” proudly stated my great aunt Juana Peña, 68. She
left Chicago decades ago, but my grandmother still calls to
Fíjate (Part 3)... continued on page 8
A People’s Victory:
Cong. Luis Gutiérrez
Launches
Re-Election
Campaign
Responds to Open Letter by
Prominent Latino Leaders
The letter was not long or fancy; instead it was like the
style of the person to whom it was addressed, straightforward and heartfelt. It began, “We’ll get to the point
quickly - please don’t retire from Congress just yet,
there’s work still to do.” The brief letter – a mere 271
words long – was drafted and signed by over 30 elected
officials and community leaders with the purpose of persuading Congressman Luis Gutiérrez to reconsider his
decision not to seek re-election. By all estimations, it was
a long shot.
Luis Gutiérrez has never backed off from a fight, something the authors of the letter know quite well. Never has
he run from a struggle. Not when he served as alderman
of the 26th ward. Not during his tenure as the representative of 4th congressional district. For years popularly
referred to as “El Gallito,” Gutiérrez has taken on important political issues. He fought for the release of the
Puerto Rican political prisoners, the removal of the U.S.
Navy from Vieques, and the struggle for progressive immigration reform; these are among the most historic and
controversial issues. This principled political and legislative work has made him one of the most well known and
respected national Latino figures in the U.S.
Endorsers of the letter, which include some of the most
prominent local Latino political leaders in Chicago,
are well aware of Gutiérrez’s stubborn commitment to
social justice. For this reason, they concluded the letter with the following plea: “[W]e need you to stay. We
need you to fight. We need you, Luis, in Congress.” For
them, the message is particularly significant. At a time
when there is growing anti-immigrant and anti-Latino
sentiment gripping the country, these leaders felt his absence from the House of Representatives would create
an incredible void.
Responding to the call of the Latino leaders from across
Chicago, Gutiérrez made an unexpected announcement
before over 1000 people attending the 2007 Hispanic
Congressman Gutiérrez... continued on page 9
CHECK OUT PAGE 7 – FIESTA BORICUA PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE • RETURN TO EL BARRIO, RETURN HOME!
From Paseo Boricua to Puerto Rico–
A Visit to an Island in Transition
Xavier “Xavi” Luis Burgos
Beginning over 60 years ago, when a million Puerto Ricans
migrated to the U.S., it is said that the intention of every
islander was to someday return to the beloved island.
Over 60 years later there are now more Puerto Ricans
living in the U.S. than on the island, forging a large and
complex Diaspora. Leaving Paseo Boricua, our “pedacito
de patria” in the Diaspora, members from our community visited the island for a three-week period in July in
order to connect, learn, and share experiences.
Those visiting were members of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center (PRCC), its satellite programs, and National
Boricua Human Rights Network (NBHRN). For some,
it was the first time visiting Puerto Rico and almost everyone was a second or third generation Puerto Rican.
Nonetheless, we were warmly welcomed by everyone we
encountered, from the guardians of Casa Corretjer in Ciales, which preserves the works of the late revolutionaries
Juan Antonio and Cosuelo Lee Corretjer, to the strong
coffee farmers cooperative, Cooperativa Agro-Comercial,
in the same town, demonstrating to the island that selfsufficiency is possible. It is also through the Cooperativa
Agro-Comercial that students of the Dr. Pedro Albizu
Campos High School on Paseo Boricua will be able to
visit Puerto Rico and learn about coffee production and
other agricultural techniques in order to develop urban
agricultural projects in Humboldt Park.
Members of the PRCC also supported NBHRN’s very
popular and educational traveling art exhibit, “Not
Enough Space,” showcasing the work of the two Puerto
Rican political prisoners Oscar López Rivera and Carlos
Alberto Torres, in the towns of San Sebastián and San
Germán. Although the political prisoners are imprisoned
for their beliefs in Puerto Rico’s independence, at the art
exhibit’s closing event in San Sebastián, its pro-statehood
mayor adamantly called for their release. The call for the
freedom of the two Puerto Rican political prisoners was
also heard at the annual Cerro Maravilla event, which is
the location where two pro-independence youth were assassinated in 1979. There, the Executive Director of the
PRCC, Prof. José E. López, spoke about what Puerto Ricans on Paseo Boricua have created – from the world’s
largest monument to a flag to its institutions, projects,
and vision. Prof. López also spoke about how the island
must think about possibilities as opposed to what can’t
be done. Former Puerto Rican Bar Association President
Eduardo Villanueva also spoke, to great applause, about
possibilities and unity in the independence movement.
Therefore, the visit to Puerto Rico was not just an opportunity to network and promote our community, but also to
witness, as we did with the Cooperativa Agro-Comercial
in Ciales and at the many other events, the crucial political
direction the island is taking. Looking beyond the tragedy
of cynicism that plagues the island, organizations and people like La Nueva Escuela, which does community work
in many housing projects and José Elías Torres of WPAB
550 radio station in Ponce, challenge Puerto Ricans on
the island to think critically about the political situation
they are in. We also met with the dedicated human rights
advocate and lawyer, Luis Nieves Falcón, who presides
La Plena
Restaurant
Grand Opening
on Paseo Boricua
September 8, 2007
12:00 pm
2617 W. Division St.
La Voz del Paseo Boricua
La Voz del Paseo Boricua
is a grassroots newsletter of the Juan Antonio Corretjer Puerto Rican Cultural
Center. We work in collaboration with various community organizations to
stabilize and strengthen the Puerto Rican community in Humboldt Park.
During this historic moment, our objective is to provide our community with
regular and reliable news and updates on community programs.
Contact us at: [email protected]
The views expressed in the pages of La Voz del Paseo Boricua do not
necessarily reflect the views of the Juan Antonio Corretjer Puerto Rican
Cultural Center and/or the editorial board of La Voz del Paseo Boricua.
over the Nilita
Vientos Gastón
Foundation in
Santurce, in order to discuss
next year’s centennial celebrations in both
Puerto
Rico
and Chicago
of the birth of
the great revolutionary, Juan Antonio Corretjer. Such
events will surely give both the island and the Diaspora
the unique opportunity to reflect on our history of resistance against colonialism. What was also touching about
our visit to the island was the impact we had on everyone
we encountered. Whether we spoke about the struggles
of our community or the many projects we envisioned,
people were amazed by our holistic approach, the age of
our leaders, and the dedication which we exhibited to
our community. Another truly memorable event was our
discussion with national heroine, Lolita Lebrón, who was
a political prisoner for over 25 years. The strength and
depth of the 86-year-old heroic figure embodied, along
with the thousands of Puerto Ricans doing community
work or putting into practice possibilities of self-sufficiency, on the island and in Paseo Boricua, that freedom
is truly tangible.
Farhan &
Associates, P.C.
Attorneys and Counselors at Law
Se habla español
Tajani Vázquez Farhan
Attorney
[email protected]
www.farhanlaw.com
2332 N. Milwaukee
Chicago, IL 60647
Ph: (773) 276-8888
F: (773) 276-8863
Editor: Michael Rodríguez Muñiz
Production Manager: Jodene Velázquez
Advertisement Coordinator: Saúl F. Meléndez
Designers: Michael Rodríguez Muñiz, Alejandro Luis Molina
Staff: Xavier Luis Burgos, Juanita García, Nilmari Donate Ruíz, Saúl Meléndez,
Melissa Cintrón, José Rivera, Vanessa Claudio, Jessica Camacho, Jonathan R.
Lizardi
Translations and proofing: Nanett Toro, Norma Torres, Elizabeth Marino,
Agnes Justiniano, Erika Abad, Maria Ramos, Lorna Morales Amill, Jonathan Rosa
Institute for Puerto Rican Arts and Culture-
4th Barrio Arts Fest A Huge Success:
Connects Community to Creative Arts
Melissa Cintrón
The carnival atmosphere prevailed, despite
the wet and dreary weather conditions, during the 4th Annual Barrio Arts Fest. On August 18, music, balloons, family, friends, free
stuff, and a brightly dressed man on stilts
(a member of Pocket Circus), were just the
right things to keep people’s spirits up as they
stepped out of the rain and into the Humboldt Park Field House.
Barrio Arts Fest, presented by the Institute
for Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, is a celebration of expression encompassing a wide
variety of Puerto Rican/Latino art. It is an
expo where community artists, musicians,
poets, filmmakers, actors, writers, and artisans showcase their skills and also share their
techniques with the community. Workshops
on ceramic tile making, jewelry making, drawing, and chiringa (kite) making got the crowd’s
creativity flowing, while others experienced
an array of theatrical/ poetic performances
by Café Teatro Batey Urbano, the students of
Association House, poet Luis Tubens, Urban
Theater Company, poet Johanny Vasquez-Paz,
and actress Jessica Camacho. There was also
a break dancing workshop with members of
the Brickheadz and Chicago Originals, with
DJ Sayne providing the perfect beats to break
to. Outside, Nuestro Tambo, Army of Juan,
and Yorumba made the crowd move. Inside,
people took a peek at films they may not have
seen otherwise in the screening room, and
explored the stunning visual art pieces by
painter/muralist Johnny Vergara, student artist Mariana, ceramic artist Daniel Lopez, and
painter Patricia Perez, as well as glass mosaics
by Valerie Alduen, to name a few.
Needless to say, there was plenty to do and
much to see this year at the fest, and there is
much more to come when the Institute for
Puerto Rican Arts and Culture officially opens
its doors to the public this fall, making it the
only self-standing cultural institution in the
nation devoted to showcasing Puerto Rican
arts and historic exhibitions year-round.
For more information on the Institute for Puerto Rican Arts & Culture 773.486.8345 info@
iprac.org or visit www.iprac.org.
Rebel Diaz: Bringing Social Consciousness Through Hip Hop
Maria Ramos-Cuaya
Chilean brothers RodStarz and G1,
originally from the north side of Chicago, and Boricua sister Lah Tere,
raised in Humboldt Park, make up
the hip-hop group Rebel Diaz. They
have performed at the marches for
the rights of immigrant workers, in
great cities and small towns, from
coast to coast and throughout Latin America. Rebel Diaz empowers
the people with their revolutionary
sounds. They challenge imperialism
by organizing resistance and inspiring transformation in communities
in New York and in their home town
of Chicago.
As Rebel Diaz continues to be inspired by the struggles and revolutionaries of our past and present,
they will keep inspiring their audiences to pursue a shared ideal of justice and liberation for a better future
Looking For a Job?
Near Northwest Neighborhood
Network (NNNN), Humboldt Park
Empowerment Partnership (HPEP),
and 26th Ward Alderman Billy Ocasio
Presents:
Job Fair
Friday, September 14, 2007
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital
1127 N. Oakley
for generations to come. RodStarz,
G1, and Lah Tere continue to demonstrate that with a little more than a
dream, lots of energy, commitment,
passion, discipline, and perseverance, we can continue to ignite the
fire of revolution in order to transform and liberate ourselves.
Check out http://www.myspace.
com/rebeldiaz for music and upcoming shows. They will be performing
in Little Village on September 11th.
Also, be on the lookout for Lah Tere’s
track on Batey Urbano’s upcoming
Hip-Hop/ Poetry CD about gentrification in Humboldt Park! Check
out www.bateyurbano.org for more
details.
Major corporations and local companies
will be hiring. Bring your resume and be
ready for interviews.
For more information call: Niuris Ramos,
773-489-0383 or email: [email protected]
West Humboldt Park
Women’s Club Meeting
Breast Cancer in
Chicago and fitness
Sign up for Aerobics class today!
When: Thurs., Sept. 13, 6-8pm
Where: Sanctuary Place
642 N. Kedzie, Chicago, IL, 60624
For further information, please contact:
Janece Simmons, 773-342-0036
or Janine Lewis, 773-786-0249.
La Voz del Paseo Boricua
Rebel Diaz has been deeply infuriated by the social injustices they see
all around them and are motivated
by a genuine desire to rectify them.
Their commitment to the community is a great example of discipline
and empathy for others. Their lyrics encourage us to not remain idle
observers as our brothers and sisters
in the struggle are fighting in the
streets. They approach their audience with a dialogue that is central
to authentic movement, because it
praises our achievements, struggles,
and contradictions, while connecting us to our history.
Songs like “Otro
Guerillero”, “Yo Doy
Todo”, “Crush”, “Pistola Clap”, “Oh Why,”
and more, identify
personal and social realities and invite us to
become conscious of
our own reality and
deal with it critically
in order to defeat the
violence in our communities. The message
is pretty clear: we must
become active and responsible to
achieve our liberation and continue
our transformation. The commitment we make to fight social injustices and to reclaim our rights and
spaces will not only unify us, but will
place us in solidarity with all of those
revolutionary movements already
taking place. Our home countries
have been fighting to recapture the
loss of dignity and justice, and to be
recognized as human beings.
Upcoming Events:
Special Contribution:
From the ‘Isla’
Carlos Quiles
To the young people of Batey Urbano, with love, admiration y profound respect; to Oscar, Carlos Alberto and
Haydée, patriotic prisoners who we have to liberate, at
all costs.
I have been to Paseo Boricua in Chicago on four occasions: The first time I went with Ariel Cuevas and ‘El
Viejo Mago’ (the old magician), Puerto Rican artists, to
present a poetic testimony to the memory of Don Bernardo Rodríguez, the laborer of Las Marías, may he rest
in peace, who was a resident of that community from
1951 up until his death on April 27, 2002. The second
time I went to present my book of poetry Un día a la vez
(One day at a time), that picks up precisely on the poetry
of the work day, in memory of don Bernardo. The third
time I went with Elbin Torres, singer, Carmín Jiménez,
lawyer and friend who helped us that time with the artistic aspect, and my son Ernesto, to present the book Memorias de Josefina, that recollects the life of our dear Fifo
in the struggle for the liberation of her daughters and
the other companions, Puerto Rican political prisoners,
and which also is a reflection on what the community
of Juan Antonio Corretjer Cultural Center represents in
the history of our Puerto Rican nation. The fourth, and
most recent trip, this past June, I went for the celebration of the Puerto Rican Parade on Paseo Boricua.
Each one of those times left a profound impression on
me. Each one of those times I was left with different
impressions that pounded on my heart and spirit until
they created a great link with that community that is an
extension of the native Puerto Rico in the United States,
and more than that, is an extraordinary example of organization and struggle for those of us who look on from
here, the island. Since I did not want to lose touch with
the sympathy and intelligence of that group of Puerto
Ricans (and one Mexican, perhaps) who make up the
Juan Antonio Corretjer Center and its projects, I pro-
posed to write a column from the island in order to talk
with, bring sentiment to, and communicate things from
here, those which otherwise would not reach them. I
must confess, however, that it is more my desire to not
lose sight of them, to be able to talk with them month to
month through this newspaper La Voz del Paseo Boricua.
The topics will vary. There will be poetry, news from
the area, news on cultural events presented over here,
maybe even contact with one of your family members;
let’s see who petitions me and gives me their information
so that I may track them down on the island. We could
talk about politics, about education, really, anything. It
can also be a space for those here on the island who wish
to communicate with you. I think it could be a wonderful exercise that will allow us to share a great brotherly
hug from a distance.
All in all, I will tell you that today is Tuesday, July 31,
2007. I am enjoying a quiet night in the neighborhood
of Guavate de Cayey, where I live. It is a gorgeous neighborhood. It is hidden in the enclave of the forest of
Carite, and a gentle Puerto Rican summer breeze passes
through the surroundings. Roberto, from La Bruquena
on Division, is from a neighboring area called Borinquen
de Caguas, according to what I have heard.
On Sundays the neighborhood is completely different than on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. On
Thursday afternoons its entire being changes from the
tranquil neighborhood spilling over into a festive Sunday where merengue, salsa, and typical country music is
heard throughout. People from all over the island, even
foreigners and Puerto Ricans who do not live here and
come to get their share of roast pork, pasteles and morcillas flow into the city in euphoria. Road 184, which bisects Guavate, is known for its ‘lechoneras’ (restaurants
that specialize in roast pork). Even though I don’t participate in this stampede, and am no aficionado when it
comes to the multitudes and the commotion, I recognize
that this is a part of our culture, of that gastronomic and
festive culture that we cannot deny. I look on from the
balcony of the restaurant Casa Tropical, while I drink
a glass of red wine, which for me is more peaceful and
familiar.
Elvira Arellano... continued from front page
La Voz del Paseo Boricua
strictive immigration law when Congress
takes up the question again. Elvira Arellano decided she needed to act quickly.
Her journey to California was an attempt
to build momentum for a national mobilization to Washington, to pressure lawmakers to take up three related issues: 1)
STOP the raids 2) STOP the deportations,
and 3) STOP the separation of families.
Although Arellano was arrested and deported on August 19, her struggle, and the
struggle of the 12 million undocumented,
does not end there.
A national mobilization effort, which will
include a large contingent from the Puerto
Rican community in Paseo Boricua, will
travel to Washington, DC to pressure
Congress to reopen the immigration debate. The staunch leader on immigration,
Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez, has been
one of the few who has kept the immigration debate alive, and created a bill to provide a just immigration reform. However,
he needs the support of the people to en-
sure that Congress will finally respond to
the 12 million undocumented immigrants
who are living and working in this country.
Puerto Ricans have debated the issue of
immigration and the rights of immigrants.
Some believe Arellano should have been
deported, but the overwhelming majority
believe Arellano’s struggle was valiant and
selfless. The struggle Arellano endured
speaks to broken laws in this country and
reassures us that racism still exists. Why
has Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) not cracked down on other
immigrant groups like it has on Mexicans?
Why do they build their borders around
Mexico and not Canada as well? Why
build borders at all? Has the US not profited from the labor and sweat of immigrant workers? When Puerto Ricans think
immigrants should be deported, think
about who does the dirty work to provide
the consumer goods and vegetables we
eat. Because our livelihood depends on
I come to these reflections in this way, improvised, like
scaring the birds, while I think about the my experiences on Paseo Boricua in the city of Chicago. It is also
a very particular place. One might say that it is a neighborhood of Puerto Rico, or a town, part of the archipelago, like Vieques. It builds itself on the fundamentals
of social conscience, where culture and national identity
play important roles. It is a place that is forming a generation that will take over, that builds and builds upon
itself from the patriotic roots that we have sometimes
denied it. That Paseo Boricua, whose mayoralty is the
Juan Antonio Corretjer Cultural Center, led by the most
excellent mayor that is José López, works on the basis of
education to provide a service. It is also a work towards
liberation. They work year-round, every single day, with
an extraordinary sense of direction and organization,
with intentions for the future, with the firm desire to
create a society that differs from that binge of insanity.
And I ponder, from the distance, on this calm and peaceful Tuesday, in the mountains of Guavate: What an excellent model to open a path to the native land, the Juan
Antonio Corretjer Cultural Center on Paseo Boricua in
Chicago. The truth is that when I return to the island,
from that exiled part of Puerto Rico in Chicago called
Paseo Boricua, I arrive with great hope.
Note: You can communicate with me in English, Spanish, in spanglish or in inglañol at the following e-mail:
[email protected] or at Box 22114, Route
184, Cayey, Puerto Rico 00736-9420.
the work immigrants are doing, we must
respect them and ensure that this government respects their human rights.
When Elvira first sought sanctuary, members of the Puerto Rican community
proudly organized a vigil in front of the
church, hoping to send out a message of
solidarity and to confront any negativity.
The vigilance of this community and her
supporters did not go unoticed. An ICE
spokesman revealed that they, “chose to
detain her on a Los Angeles street rather
than in the Chicago church, because they
believed it would be safer for the arresting officers, as well as Arellano, her companions and the public.” Puerto Ricans
should dignify and respect the lives of undocumented immigrants in this country.
One way to do so is to join the national
effort and travel to Washington, DC on
September 12 to show the government
that immigrants are not forgotten and are
fully supported by the Puerto Rican community of Chicago.
*Please see sidebar for more information on
travel to Washington, DC.
ALL OUT TO WASHINGTON DC
SEPTEMBER 12
DEMAND TO CONGRESS: STOP THE RAIDS,
STOP THE DEPORTATIONS, STOP THE
SEPARATION OF FAMLIES!
Come in solidarity and support our
undocumented sisters and brothers!
Unite in the struggle for immigration reform!
Support Elvira Arellano and the thousands of
families being separated by deportation!
Unite in the national movement and travel to
Washington, DC on September 12!
Leaving from: Puerto Rican Cultural Center,
2739 W. Division St., September 11
For more information, please call 773-342-8022.
La Voz del Paseo Boricua
SALSA:
Reggaeton:
This year, Fiesta
Boricua is proud to
present none other
than the “Pavarotti
de la Salsa,” Tito
Nieves. Nieves began his career in the Orquesta�
���������
Cimarron, a New York-based band. In the late
1970s, he collaborated with the icon Héctor Lavoe
and later joined the band, Conjunto Clásico. In
1986, Nieves went solo, setting himself apart
by singing Salsa in English. His most recent
production features the songs of the legendary
Mexican singer, Marco Antonio Solís.
One of Reggaeton’s
fastest rising stars,
Voltio is among the
most requested
performers of
this urban genre.
Constantly touring the US and Puerto Rico, he
is considered in the same league as superstars
Tego Calderón, Don Omar, and Daddy Yankee.
His groundbreaking videos received the highest
rotation for any reggaeton artist and set a
standard of quality and creativity for the whole
genre. Soon, Voltio will be dropping his latest CD
titled “Julio Voltio: El Mellao.”
– Featured Artists –
14 Fiesta Boricua
th
La Voz del Paseo Boricua
Tito Nieves
Nueva Trova:
Roy Brown
Very few Puerto
Rican musicians
have impacted our
cultural and political
sensibilities like Roy Brown. His immense talent
has spanned over 35 years, producing over
18 Cd’s, and has stirred the hearts of people
around the world with thousands of live concerts.
His albums are classic and his performances
unforgettable. Roy Brown is Puerto Rico’s
premiere example of the musical genre “La
Nueva Trova,” with a charisma full of both the
frustration and aspirations of his people.
Voltio
Nuevo Trova:
Fernandito
Ferrer
One of the newest and
most talented singers
and songwriters of
Puerto Rico’s Nueva Trova musicians, Fernando
Ferrer’s music has been compared to the works
of Tracy Chapman, Annie D’Franco, Silvio
Rodriguez and Nick Drake. Ferrer draws from
the Nuevo Trova giants of the 70’s, but he also
has developed his own language. His percussion
guitar technique and impressive vocal abilities
provide a subtle yet powerful poetic melody that
brings the genre to a broader audience.
Hip-Hop:
SieteNueve
and
DJ Velcro
Puerto Rico’s very own
SieteNueve and Velcro
are considered two of
the finest examples of
the island’s dynamic
Hip Hop scene.
SieteNueve, one of
the best-kept secrets
in Latin American,
will perform with DJ Velcro, a talented producer
and MC in his own right. Once you hear the
combination of Velcro’s beats and SieteNueve’s
social conscious lyrics, your adrenaline is bound
to get going.
Visit:
• Miller beer gardens in the Bubbleland
and Banco Popular parking lots
• Health corridor on the corner of Division
and Washtenaw sponsored by Governor
Rod Blagojevich and the Department of
Human Services
• The Café Cibales kiosk of the
Cooperative Agro-Comercial
STAGE ON CALIFORNIA
STAGE ON WESTERN
8:30AM
1:30 PM
2:05 PM
2:25 PM
2:45 PM
3:25 PM
4:00 PM
4:40 PM
5:20 PM
6:00 PM
6:45 PM
7:00 PM
11:00 AM Rebano Church
1:05 PMOrquesta Suave
1:35 PMOrquesta Leal
2:15 PM Los Perdios
2:55 PM Fernadito Ferrer
3:35 PM Siete Nueve and DJ Velcro
4:15 PM Billy Rivera y su Orquesta
4:50 PM PMV Chicago-Mateo y
Los Bachateros, Frank Kelly
5:00 PM Jesus Enrique
5:40 PM Dino Latino
6:15 PM La Unica
6:50 PM Voltio
State of Ilinios Stage
Miller Stage
New Life Church
1ra orquesta de quiro
DEO’B
Daja
Chica Aixa
Latin Sound crew
PMV Chicago-Betzaida
Raul Timbal y su Mambo Jazz
Cacique
Roy Brown
Walk of Fame Presentation
Alderman Ocasio
Tito Nieves
Ald. Ocasio recognizes music
of Tito Nieves and Roy Brown
Music legends inducted into Paseo Boricua ‘Walk of Fame’
In a public act to be celebrated
ing a private formal dinner to be
on Saturday, September
celebrated at Club 720.
1st, two bronze medallions will be revealed
Tito Nieves is considbearing the names of
ered by many to be
Tito Nieves and Roy
the “Pavarotti of SalBrown, encrusted
sa”, beginning his
into the sidewalks
career with Hector
of Division Street
Lavoe in the 1970s.
on Paseo Boricua.
He recently released
Tit o N iev es
Tito Nieves and
a CD paying homRoy Br own
Roy Brown, through
age to Marco Antothis recognition on the
nio Solis. Roy Brown,
Walk of Fame of Paseo
who began his musical caBoricua, will become a part
reer more than 35 years ago
of the historic memory that has
during the student protests and
been written since 1995, in our small piece struggles of the University of Puerto Rico,
of home that Boricuas continue to build continues to add more dimensions to a
in Chicago.
musical style known as Nueva Trova. He
will be performing in Chicago with Tito
That very same night, these two important Auger, who was formerly a part the band
figures of Puerto Rican music will be for- Fiel a la Vega.
mally initiated into the walk of fame dur-
Try t
“Tort he special
illa B
oricua
”
s
famou
e
h
t
f
o
Home a de Coco”
“Aven
Puerto Rican Breakfast & Lunch Restaurant
2458 W. Division Street • 773/252.5520
*
Any Dine-in, Pick-up or Delivery!
Offer good from Tues. – Sat. between Aug. 1 and Sept. 1
Libreria El Quijote
is a proud Puerto
Rican-owned bilingual
& multicultural
bookstore that has
been educating our
Latino community
over 28 years!
Libreria El Quijote
Paseo Boricua
2546 W. Division Street
Chicago, IL 60622
773-227-5872
*on purchases of $10.00 or more with coupon!
Come enjoy great food and company
in the heart of Chicago’s Puerto Rican community!
• Educational books
• Self-help books
• Children’s stories
• Novels (Fiction & Non-Fiction)
• Biographies
(in several languages)
• Cook books
• Cultural books
• Resources for school projects
• Posters
• Even Guayaberas!
www.bookspluschicago.com
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Saturday – 9am- 5pm
Chicago Public School Vendor #
20293
La Voz del Paseo Boricua
$2.00 off
Check out
our extensive
collection of:
Fíjate... continued from front page
tell her about the neighborhood. “She told me about those
flags you have…I can’t wait to visit and see all the changes,”
Juana said in excitement as we scannned through family
photos. Although, I encountered a family so interested in
a community preserving our culture, I also encounter some
people who can’t appreciate a community they’ve always
lived in. Why?
“I don’t want to move over there! It’s too ghetto!” exclaimed
a friend of many years after I asked if she’d considered any
of the apartments from the listing I gave her. “But you’ve
always lived in Humboldt Park,” I cried back. Visibly upset, she responded with, “So! I want to move somewhere
better.” The words “somewhere
better” rings in my ears. “I use
to live on Homan and Division
and I never saw anything happen and I would walk from Paseo
late at night,” explains Dorian
Ortega, 20. “Puerto Ricans think
that moving to the suburbs is
something better… [but] driving through some of them, I’ve
really seen the ghetto.” Decades
of high crime rates, drug addiction, and other social ills, as well
as low-economic development
and two urban riots, have given
Humboldt Park the stigma of a
blighted slum. However, one must ask why such things exist
and more importantly, what can be done about them?
For example, to many Puerto Ricans, it is always other communities in the city or the suburbs that seem so quiet and
appealing at first, but after a steady influx of their friends
and old neighbors, some of whom left by choice and others who were forced out because of gentrification, the same
problems they left begin to appear again. It is not because
“Puerto Ricans love to gangbang,” as my former Puerto
Rican landlord, who lives in Humboldt Park, explained.
According to Professor Gina M. Pérez, author of The Near
Northwest Side Story, gentrification “brutally displaces…
rich networks of support among family, friends, and local
businesses crucial to…material survival.” In other words, in
order to fix the problems of a community, you must have
a community – with all its institutions, organizations, small
businesses, and personal networks – to begin with. As written all over this newspaper, Humboldt Park and Paseo Bo-
ricua have so much to offer, from free Puerto Rican movies
screened in the park to after school programs where community youth can learn about radio, journalism, and theater.
There are Hip-Hop shows at the Batey Urbano, live salsa
bands at Coco’s, and even an arts festival showcasing the
best of what Puerto Ricans in Chicago have created. There
are affordable apartments constructed to look like Viejo San
Juan and bodegas on almost every block. And, of course,
there’s Fiesta Boricua! And if truth be told, there are many
Boricuas working to remain in Humboldt Park.
Carmen Areizaga, 48 has lived with her family in their home
on Campbell and Potomac streets for over 40 years. Last
year, when La Voz del Paseo Boricua covered her story, city
inspectors were harassing Carmen and her family, invading
their home and eventually fining them over $30,000 in ridiculous violations. It was no coincidence that the city inspectors
showed up after the construction
of two high-priced condominiums
across the street from her home.
Now, Carmen is facing the abuse
of negligent contractors who ran
with her $10,000 and are pass
due in fixing her building violations. This money, I must note,
comes from a line of credit on her
home. However, Carmen and her
family refuse to sell and leave the
only community they have ever
known.
It is time for all Puerto Ricans in Chicago to understand this
community and struggle for its survival and improvement. It
is as simple as moving back or participating in community
events. The upcoming Humboldt Park Housing Summit on
October 20 will provide housing information, like how to
prevent a city inspector from harassing you or ways to buy
an affordable home. Or join the upcoming diverse efforts of
the Puerto Rican Cultural Center. “Can we beat gentrification?” asks Angela. I say, yes! Despite living in a cruel and
racist world, we are still here, but only because people willing to struggle for positive change everyday in our barrio.
Yet, without the continued support, input, and involvement
of every Boricua who loves her or his family, culture, and
history, in a few years, all the Puerto Rican festivities, restaurants, bodegas, organizations, murals, even the two, huge
flags on La Division will be gone. Forever.
Do you support Humboldt Park and Paseo Boricua? Dáme
bochinche: [email protected]
“Humboldt Park is Not For Sale”
First Annual Humboldt Park Housing Summit
Batey Urbano CD Release Hip-Hop Show
Community March through the Barrio
Batey Urbano Hip-Hop & Poetry CD Release Show:
October 19, Batey Urbano, 2620 W. Division St., 7 PM
This event will showcase today’s up and coming Puerto Rican artists,
who will appear on a new CD about the impact of gentrification in the
Puerto Rican community. With performances by Pinqy Ring, Chi-Ill,
Lah Tere, Dark Crime Records, Tony Centrino, Batey Poets and more…
La Voz del Paseo Boricua
For more information, contact Batey Urbano:
Janeida Rivera at 773-342-1714.
“Humboldt Park is Not for Sale!” Community March
October 20, 9:30AM, Location TBA
A community march will lead residents into the Housing Summit to
raise awareness about the problem of displacement and gentrification in the Humboldt Park area. This march will illustrate the unified
determination of long-time residents for preserving El Barrio.
For more information, contact Participatory Democracy Project
(PRCC): Xavier Luis Burgos 773-342-8023.
NNNN/HPEP First Annual Humboldt Park Housing Summit
October 20, 11AM, Humboldt Park Field House
(1400 N. Sacramento Blvd.)
The purpose of the First Annual Humboldt Park Housing Summit is to
celebrate the achievements that have been made in our community in
terms of housing, facilitate discussion among residents, and community leaders on the state of housing in the Humboldt Park area, and
to hear from community residents, so we can work together to help
preserve Humboldt Park for longstanding families and organizations.
• Informative panels and discussions on
housing problems and possibilities in Humboldt Park.
• Learn what resources exist in the community
and how to join in the effort to resist displacement.
• Refreshments, raffle, special cultural performances and more...
For more information, contact NNNN:
Melissa Cintrón at 773-489-0383.
Want to Live
el Barrio?
in
2515 W. Division
2 bd.
$850
773-297-4131
2500 W. Division
2 bd.
$800
773-456-9992
2525 W. Division
3 bd.
$800
773-742-2332
2450 W. Division
2 bd.
3 bd.
$850
$1,100
312-719-4099
2818-16 W. Thomas 1 bd.
2 bd.
$800
$900 773-276-9505
946 N. California
2 bd.
$600
773-622-9640
773-710-9830
904 N. California
2 bd.
$600
773-486-4364
2511 W. Augusta
3 bd.
$1,200
312-617-9138
773-981-3920
2510 W. Thomas
1.5 bd.
$600 773-895-0290
773-895-0292
1537 W. Rockwell
4 bd.
$1,200
773- 823-8181
1315 N. Rockwell
2 bd.
$700
312-543-7727
312-226-7530
For more information,
or if you would like to announce
your apartments for free,
please contact: 773/384-7695.
¡Regresa al Barrio!
Humboldt Park is NOT FOR SALE!
Preserve the heart of the
Puerto Rican community
Can you IMAGINE a Humboldt Park
with no PUERTO RICANS?
…A Humboldt Park without the SOUNDS of SALSA
and Puerto Rican FAMILIES priced-out?
…A Humboldt Park without the
SMELLS of a JIBARITO
and Puerto Rican BUSINESSES out-of-business?
…A Humboldt Park without the SIGHT of the
FLAGS
and Puerto Rican CULTURE without a home?
Can you ACCEPT a Humboldt Park
LOST to greedy developers?
CONTACT: Humboldt Park Participatory Democracy Project (of the
Puerto Rican Cultural Center) at (773) 342-8022 • [email protected] • www.myspace.com/humboldtparkpd.
Fitness for Kids Health Fair
Targets Childhood Obesity in El Barrio
Association House of Chicago is promoting physical
activity for Humboldt Park children at the first Fitness
for Kids Health Fair. The Health Fair will be held on
September 15, 2007 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at 1116
N. Kedzie Avenue, together with the Barreto Boys and
Girls Club.
The Fitness for Kids Health Fair is being held to increase community knowledge about the risks associated
with childhood inactivity and subsequent obesity and
to enable families to manage their health and wellness
through physical movement, active play and education.
Fitness for Kids begins with a community bike ride
from 9:00 am to 10:00 am and there will be free aerobics classes for children and jumping houses throughout
the day. Music, dance and martial arts performances by
community clubs and Association House program participants feature along with free immunizations, bicycle
helmets, healthy snacks, information and education in
both English and Spanish. All the activities and services
at the event are free and are provided by the Association
House staff, Barreto Girls and Boys Club members and
more than 15 community groups and businesses including Humboldt Park Co-op, the YMCA, Chicago Children’s Museum, Go Team Go, Rodriguez Karate Academy, Gingarte Capoeira, Norwegian Hospital, American
Red Cross, Harmony Insurance, All Kids Chicago Insurance and the University of Illinois Extension.
For more information about this event please contact
the Healthy Lifestyles Program at 773-772-7170 x 3203,
3204.
Gutiérrez... continued from front page
Business Expo. On August 16, to the boisterous applause of all those present, he
announced his decision to run for a 9th
congressional term. Among the reasons for
Gutiérrez’s change of heart and mind are
his wife Zoraida’s greatly improved health,
the possibility of a Democratic President
and Congress in 2008, and the humble reThe Puerto Rican Cultural Center
would like to congratulate newlyweds
OrlandoRobles Lugo and Yomaira
Lugo Velez who took their vows on
August 12, 2007. We wish you luck!
quest of his colleagues and friends
Living up to his reputation as “El Gallito”,
Gutierrez told Chicago Sun-Times Reporters, “You shouldn’t walk away from the
fight if you believe you can end that injustice through the power that you wield.”
The Puerto Rican
Cultural Center
would like to extend
its deepest
condolences to
Christina Rivero
on the death of
her father.
Seats Available, Apply Now!
Earn Your High School Diploma!
Dr. Pedro
Albizu Campos
Puerto Rican
High School
Educational
Programs:
Day Program:
La Voz del Paseo Boricua would like to
congratulate staff member, Saul Melendez, who received his bachelor’s degree
from the University of Illinois at
Chicago. Keep up the good work!
Errata: Nilsa Irizarry is the Board
Chairwoman for Orgullo en Accion.
Her last name was erroneous in Vol. 4
• No. 5.
• Puerto Rican history and culture courses
• Internships with community businesses
• College and employment preparation
• Math and Science Academy
focused on urban agriculture
Evening Program:
Centro Infantil
Consuelo Lee Corretjer
Day Care
A program of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center
Open Registration • Day Care Program
• Head Start Collaboration
We offer:
2739-41 W. Division Street
PHONE: 773.342.8866 • FAX: 773-342-6609
E-MAIL: [email protected]
Teen Parents Program:
Lolita Lebrón Family Learning Center
• Puerto Rican history and culture courses
• Literacy focus for parents and their children
• Health and parenting courses
• Childcare services
2739-41 W. Division Street
Paseo Boricua, Humboldt Park
PHONE: 773.342.8023
FAX: 773-342-6609
E-MAIL: [email protected]
La Voz del Paseo Boricua
• Full day, Day Care for children
2-(potty- trained) to 3 years
• Full day, Head Start for children 3 to 5 years
• CACFP Lunch program
• IDHS subsidy program
• Action for children
• DCFS
• Private slots are available.
• Fast track to graduation (credit accrual)
• Internet based education
• Intense tutoring support
• Evening hours
September 2007 Update: CO-OP Humboldt Park
Community of Wellness
Contact: Miguel Morales • CO-OP Humboldt Park • 773.278.6737 • 2703 W. Division Street
Sugar sweetened drinks are a major
contributor to the obesity epidemic
Miguel Morales
Over the past 30 years the rate of overweight and obesity in children and adults
has increased to epidemic proportions in
the United States. There are many reasons
for this increase, including the overabundance of high fat foods, the marketing of
unhealthy food targeted towards children,
increases in meal portion size, a decrease in
physical activity among children and adults
and increases in automobile use. There is increasing evidence that sugar sweetened beverages such as fruit punch and soft drinks are one
the most important single contributors to this
epidemic.
In fact, sweetened drinks have also been linked
to an increase in type 2 diabetes. In 2004, a
study by the Harvard Medical, Dental and Public Health School compared the consumption
of sugar-sweetened beverages with regard to
weight change and risk of type 2 diabetes over
eight years in almost 52,000 and 91,000 women,
respectively. The study found that women who increased
their consumption from one or fewer drinks per week to
the one or more a day gained almost 18 extra pounds in
eight years. Women who gained the least
weight, about 6 pounds, were those who
cut back drastically on sugary drinks. The
consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages also increased the risk of type 2 diabetes. For women who drank more than one
soda or fruit punch a day, the risk of diabetes virtually doubled, compared to women
who drank less than one a month.
It is clear that aside from individual choices,
the environment has a major role to play in
encouraging or discouraging healthy behaviors.
Soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened drinks
(not 100% fruit juice) are available in school
vending machines, at local stores, bodegas and
local restaurants. In the next few months CO-OP
Humboldt Park will gather input from community
residents about beverage consumption in families with young children. This information will
help us to make changes in the environment that
can impact the health of the families of Humboldt
Park and West Town.
For more information call 773 278-6737.
The Conuco Farmer’s
Market on Paseo Boricua
NEW SITE!!!!!
2626 W Division Street
Every Saturday until October 27
from 9AM-2PM,
The Market Basket
pickup site has been
moved to
Come and get fresh produce in El Barrio!
For more information, please contact
Miguel Morales at 773 278-6737.
Paseo Boricua
Grocery and Deli
(2706 W. Division Street)
Sponsored by Growing Power and Puerto Rican Cultural Center
FREE PRODUCE
through the PRODUCEMOBILE
You can
receive
Sept. , HP Field House & Oct. 1, HP Field House • 10am
One person per family can pick up food!
La Voz del Paseo Boricua
For more information:
10
please contact Miguel Morales,
773/278-6737
Additional PRODUCEMOBILES
• McCormick Tribune YMCA parking lot
(1834 N Lawndale Ave)
Every first Tuesday of the month:
This program is
provided to you by:
CO-OP Humboldt Park, Greater
Chicago Food Depository. Space
provided to this program
by the Chicago Park District
(Humboldt Park)
Next Date: Tues, Sept 4 & Oct. 2, 10:30am
Call 773 235-2525 for more information.
• Humboldt Park Boat House
(sponsored by San Lucas Church)
Every third Monday of the month:
Next Date: Mon., Sept. 17 & Oct. 15, 10am
Call Rosa at 773 227-5747 for more information.
¡Muévete!
CO-OP Humboldt Park
Aerobics
Aerobics
every Mon.,
Weds. and
Fri., 6:30pm
– 7:30pm
at the
Humboldt
Park
FieldHouse
(1440 N Sacramento).
For more information,
call Leony at (773) 278-6737.
FARM – CITY
MARKET BASKET
PROGRAM
on Paseo Boricua
In collaboration with Growing Power
and Rainbow Farmers Cooperative,
CO-OP Humboldt Park will launch
a program that allows residents to
buy an affordable assortment of
fruits and vegetables on a weekly
basis throughout the fall, winter
and spring seasons. We know how
important fresh produce is to our
health and fighting disease, so we
urge residents to subscribe to this
service. You can choose one of the
following baskets.
Link Card is accepted!
Choose The Program
That Works For You!
• Farm-City Market Basket
For $16 a week, we guarantee your home
access to safe, healthy produce. Our basket
contains a variety of fruits and vegetables to
feed a family of 2-4 for a whole week.
• Junior/Senior Market Basket (Singles)
For $9 a week, we offer a basket of fresh,
healthy fruits and vegetables that is half the
size of the Farm-City Market Basket and is
senior-friendly.
• Sustainable Box (Organic)
For $27 a week, enjoy a combination of certified
organic, sustainable and eco-friendly produce
grown by members of our farmer’s co-op. Take
care of the earth and experience a culinary feast
each week.
• Chicken Dinner (Organic)
For $17 add an Amish pasture raised organic
chicken to your order! Just $31 for a market
basket with Chicken or $42 for a sustainable box
with chicken.
Contact Myra Rodríguez at (773) 278-6737
for more information.
National Boricua Human Rights Network (NBHRN) 2739-41 W. Division Street, Chicago IL 60622
September 2007 • [email protected] • www.boricuahumanrights.org • www.presospoliticospuertorriquenos.org
“Dissent is Not a Crime”
NBHRN fundraiser a Huge Success
On August 17, 2007, the
National Boricua Human
Rights Network (NBHRN) held
a fundraiser for the campaign
to release the two remaining
Puerto Rican political prisoners
– Oscar Lopez Rivera and Carlos
Alberto Torres – at Sonotheque
Bar & Club. The event was well
supported with all of the food
and items for the silent auction
donated by local merchants.
The
detention
last week of the
treasurer of the
independentista
organization La
Nueva
Escuela
on a rural road
by agents of the
Federal Bureau of
Investigation of
the United States
– assisted by members of the Puerto
Rican Police who were not using badges
- gave rise to a series of denunciations
alerting that a new wave repression
was being prepared.
Over 70 people attended and
were quite generous during the silent
auction bidding!! The event included a
showing of the 7-minute video “Dissent
is Not a Crime”, poetry by the Batey
Urbano, words by the guest of honor, expolitical prisoner Ida Luz Rodriguez and
music by DJ Wrek and Nuestro Tambo.
NBHRN was able to raffle off two quilts,
of Oscar and Carlos Alberto, by local artist
Ken Ellis. In a moment of sweet justice,
Ida Luz won the quilt of Oscar. It was a
wonderful end to a wonderful evening.
Over $3,000 was raised that evening!!
The NBHRN would like to thank everyone
that attended and supported the event,
including the following merchants &
individuals that donated items or services
to make the event a success: La Bruquena
Restaurant, Michelle Rodriguez of
Dynamic Hair Salon, Sultan’s Market,
Joe Bryl & Sonotheque, Beth Johnson,
Gabriela Reyes, Accentric Design, Leo
Negron, Ken Ellis, Miguel Mendez of the
Dance Academy of Salsa, Alex Wilson
of West Town Bikes, David Meyers, the
Batey Urbano and Nuestro Tambo.
Carlos Alberto Torres, #88976-024
BD: September 19, 1952
FCI Oxford, PO Box 1000,
Oxford, WI 53952
Oscar López Rivera, #87651-024
BD: January 6, 1943
USP Terre Haute, PO Box 12015,
Terre Haute, IN 47801
La Red online:
www.boricuahumanrights.org
www.presospoliticospuertorriquenos.org
•Mensajes de Oscar López Rivera y Carlos Alberto Torres a la apertura de “Sin Suficiente Espacio” en el Taller Boricua de Nueva York
•2da Edición del catalogo “Sin Suficiente Espacio” sale a la venta
The spokesman of the FBI in San Juan
confirmed that Roberto Viqueira was
stopped and his automobile searched
by order of the US District Court based
on a “sealed” declaration, but he said
that it could not give details of what
was found in the vehicle nor what
is being investigated. Nevertheless,
he clarified that his [Viqueira’s] case
does not have anything to do with a
series of FBI interventions relating
to common crime in the last month.
This new incident occurred August
7th on a highway that leads to the Dry
Forest of Guánica – where he works as
marine biologist - when police officers
without badges ordered him to stop.
He was handcuffed and removed from
his automobile while the agents were
checking the interior, they seized his
mobile phone and his planner and
left. “We must all prepare ourselves
because incidents are going to occur,
repression is coming and we are going
to be ready, we are going to be here in
the trenches of struggle,”, said Elma
Beatriz Rosado Barbosa, widow of
Comandante Ojeda, in response to the
incident. The NBHRN denounces the
repression against the compañeros(as)
of La Nueva Escuela and calls on all
human rights to be vigilant.
A Tribute to
David Saxner:
Peacemaker, Advocate, Servant
Jesse Carrasquillo
Editor’s Note: On Thanksgiving Day
2007, David Saxner died unexpectedly.
A tireless advocate of the imprisoned,
he spoke and organized consistently
for “C” class prisoners in Illinois.
The following tribute was written by
Jesse Carrasquillo, brother of Ronnie
Carrasquillo, a “C” class prisoner and
former gang member, who grew up in
the Humboldt Park area.
…When I reflect on David’s life and
try to explain him to others I think
of Mother Teresa of Calcutta and
of Dr. Martin Luther King. Mother
Teresa dedicated the majority of
her life to helping the poorest of
the poor. Her compassion reflected
that of Jesus. Mother Teresa helped
the needy and worked tirelessly on
behalf of World Peace…
…I met David about five years ago
when I was attending an En-banc
hearing for my brother Ronnie
Carrasquillo who is a C#; David was
helping my brother. David’s work
and contagious compassion made
me want to find out more about
him. I finally put the pieces together
at his funeral service through what
others had to say about David.
The complete article can be found on
our website.
La Voz del Paseo Boricua
write to the patriots
NBHRN condemns
FBI harassment of
La Nueva EscuelA
11
¡Humboldt
N
Conserve el cora
Preserve the Heart of
Humboldt Park Participatory Democracy Project: 773-342-8023 • par
t Park
No Se VH endeP !
umboldt ark
is Not for Sale!
azón del Barrio Boricua
f the Puerto Rican community
[email protected] • myspace.com/humboldtparkpd