BY SAM MANUEL
WASHINGTON, D.C. - A National Puerto Rican Affirmation Day drew 2,500 participants here March 29. Marchers came from across the United States and Puerto Rico.
The action involved people with a range of political viewpoints who expressed their determination to defend the rights of Puerto Ricans, both in the United States and on the island nation. Many enthusiastically chanted "Long Live Free Puerto Rico!" and "Puerto Rico Yes, Yanquee No!" A good number of the marchers were young. For many it was their first political activity. Several individuals and groups of workers carried hand-lettered signs or wore jackets and caps identifying their union, such as the Amalgamated Transit Workers, hospital workers union, Service Employees International Union, and International Association of Machinists. Many took the day off work to attend the march.
Juan Rodríguez came with a busload of 40 students from Central Connecticut State University. "I came today for the pride of Boricuas [Puerto Ricans]," he said. "We must stand up for our rights." Another student, Alicia, added, "We are fighting hard to get Puerto Rican studies on campus so our culture and history can be kept alive." The contingent was organized by the Latin American Students Organization.
Rafael López came with 34 others in a car caravan from the south Bronx in New York City. "We are here to let the country know we exist. We refuse to be invisible," said López. "We are standing up today not just for Puerto Ricans but for all minorities."
One large banner proclaimed "Free the 15 Puerto Rican Political Prisoners!" Marchers all around the banner chanted "Libertad!" (freedom). "I came to show support for freedom for the political prisoners," said Carmen Torres. She was among the several busloads of marchers from Philadelphia.
The students were referring to 15 Puerto Rican political activists arrested by the FBI in the 1980s. They were convicted in U.S. courts on various charges including conspiracy, arms possession, and bank robbery. In the case of several activists arrested in 1985, the convictions were based largely on FBI spy testimony and contested transcripts of conversations taped through massive wiretapping of private homes. The march organizers submitted petitions to U.S. president William Clinton asking for a presidential pardon for the 15 political activists.
Marchers expressed a variety of opinions on Puerto Ricós status, from supporters of independence to advocates of statehood or the status quo. A group of 30 carried a banner reading "New York Coalition for Statehood Now!"
"We all favor an independent Puerto Rico," explained Enrique Cruz, who was at his first march. "But first we must develop economically in association with the U.S. in order to work toward independence."
The event featured several prominent elected officials who are Puerto Rican, among them U.S. Congresspeople Nydia Velázquez and José Serrano from New York, and Rep. Luis Gutiérrez from Illinois. They and others called for Puerto Ricans to turn out in large numbers to the polls and vote for Democrats to "turn back the Republican Contract with America."
Gutiérrez said a document called the National Puerto Rican Leadership Agenda would be submitted to each member of Congress and to Clinton. March organizer Manuel Mirabal, president of the National Puerto Rican Coalition, said the document was intended to convince U.S. officials to support the interests of Puerto Ricans.
Organizers of the event began the activities with a rally at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to honor Puerto Rican veterans of U.S. wars. Many of the speeches were laced with appeals to defend "our country," referring to the United States.
Sam Manuel is a member of United Transportation Union Local 454.