ACLU To Host Delegation In San Juan To Address Serious Civil Liberties Violations
CONTACT: Elizabeth Beresford, (212) 519-7808 or 549-2666; media@aclu.org
NEW YORK/SAN JUAN – The American Civil Liberties Union will host a high-level delegation that includes such notables as actor Rosie Perez and Puerto Rican-born baseball great Carlos Delgado in San Juan May 2 and 3 to conduct a fact-finding mission to document and draw attention to egregious civil liberties violations that have been occurring in Puerto Rico.
The delegation will meet with journalists who have faced police violence and other restrictions when reporting on these incidents, as well as protestors, including university students, union leaders, workers and other citizens who have been met with excessive force and violence by police over the past eighteen months.
In addition to Perez and Delgado, delegates include civil rights attorney Juan Cartagena, political scientist Angelo Falcón and financier Sean McVity. The delegation will hold a press conference in San Juan May 3, at the conclusion of the two-day mission.
A high-level advisory council, including political activist and filmmaker Kerry Kennedy, has been created to follow up on findings and recommendations upon the delegation’s return.
In contrast to recent non-violent protests in Wisconsin, Puerto Rican police have violently cracked down on protestors in the U.S. territory in blatant violation of their constitutional rights. Over the last 18 months, individuals protesting at the University of Puerto Rico, the Capitol building steps, the Supreme Court and other locations have faced police violence, including beatings with night sticks, tear gassing and pepper spray at close range. Constitutionally protected expression has been seriously restricted by heavily armed SWAT and riot squad teams.
Delegates will also meet with government officials and have requested meetings with Gov. Luis Fortuño, the police superintendent and legislators of both majority and minority parties.
Additional information about the delegates is available online at: www.aclu.org/organization-news-and-highlights/aclu-delegation-puerto-rico
Posted on: April 29th, 2011Curation from Tomás
Filed Under: needs curation
May 2nd, 2011 at 4:17 pm
My congratulations. It’s long overdue. But it would have been nice if they would have given it more publicity and advance warning. I do not think two days is enough to hear about all the abuses and Civil Rights violations comitted by the Fortuno administration. Keep up the good work!
May 2nd, 2011 at 8:54 pm
Like Miguel Raldiris, I applaude and encourage your presence and participation for a discovery on the on-going trials and tribulations experienced by the citizens of PR. A heads up notice from this Delegation would have been nice so that individuals, like myself, with much documented information on all the irregularities in Puerto Rico, (Current and previous Government administration) could have met with you. I left a voice mail with my contact information and look forward to your response! Thank You!