The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.61/No.32           September 22, 1997 
 
 
Dominicans Protest Cops In Puerto Rico  
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - About 125 people marched September 4 from the police headquarters to the federal building here to protest the death of Rafael Herrera, 27, during a raid to arrest undocumented workers. Dominican groups here have charged that he died after being beaten by the police. One of the main demands of the march was a thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding his death.

The picket line formed at noon in front of police headquarters on Roosevelt Avenue. During the picket a worker from the telephone company honked and waved in solidarity as he drove by. After chanting slogans against police brutality and discrimination against Dominican immigrants in Puerto Rico, the marchers sang the national anthem of the Dominican Republic. Then the crowd marched to the federal building.

Many protesters carried Dominican flags, while a smaller number carried the Puerto Rican banner. The Dominican organizations sponsoring the march included the Party of Dominican Liberation, Social Christian Reform Party, and Dominican Revolutionary Party, all of which have offices in San Juan. Sponsoring Puerto Rican groups included one of the General Council of Workers, one of the main trade union groupings, as well as the Socialist Front.

Besides the call for an investigation of Herrera's death, a leaflet listed the other demands: For Solidarity without Borders, Enough of Abuses, and Break the Chains of Fear.

Hours after the march forensic pathologist Yocasta Brugal released the official cause of death. She said that there were no signs that he had been beaten. According to Brugal, Herrera had a type of anemia that can be fatal when the person does strenuous physical exercise such as running from cops.  
 
 
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