Open Letter to the Board of Directors of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade

We are the sons of mothers, the fathers of daughters, the brothers to sisters who deplore violence against women. We support and encourage all efforts to bring about an end to Domestic Violence and Male Violence against Women in particular. We simply cannot remain silent on this issue". We are, raising our voices in support of our sisters who have courageously challenged the Puerto Rican Day Parade Board of Directors for selecting O svaldo Rios as International Padrino of the 2010 Puerto Rican Day Parade. We Puerto Rican men cannot remain silent, this struggle is not our sisters struggle to fight alone, especially when as men we are the primary perpetrators of this crime and abuse, and those of us who claim not to be abusive still benefit from the status quo, which keeps unhealthy machismo alive and prevalent in our communities.

The Puerto Rican Community, not unlike others, have amongst us individuals who engage in shameful and abusive acts such as domestic violence, child abuse and male violence against women. Amongst them are many who have changed and even held themselves and other men accountable for this behavior.

Men who engage in violence against women are a minority in a community comprised of many peaceful oriented, loving, hard working and individuals. It is the majority, exemplary people from whom true role models should be chosen. There are many men who head organizations to end the violence against women amongst whom one could be chosen to be International Godfather of the Puerto Rican Day Parade. We cannot forget the violent attacks against women in recent times – at the parade. Honoring Mr. Rios adds insult to injury to Puerto Rican and all women by the Puerto Rican Day Parade Committee Board of Directors.

Mr. Rios has been convicted and served time for Domestic Violence. He has a history of violence against women in other relationships. Osvaldo Rios does not represent the best of our community. It is one thing for Osvaldo Rios to face up to his ills and crimes; and challenge himself to make changes in his relationship with intimate partners and redeem himself. But this obviously has not been the case. Hearing the calls from women asking him not to accept the honor indicates that Mr. Rios is still not listening to the collective voice of women affected by abuse.

Mr. Rios has many mountains to climb and many rivers to cross before we simply forgive and forget his actions. He should take this opportunity in the spotlight to shed light on his case and work toward eradicating violence against women, by challenging men to be part of the solution. This needs to be done not to save his career, but to address an issue we seldom discuss in the Puerto Rican and Latino community. Men need to take the lead in this type of work in order for Violence against women to end. Perpetrator or non perpetrator we have an obligation to restore a basic human right to our sisters.

Mr. Rios is not the lone culprit in any of this; the board of Directors' decision is unacceptable and should be immediately withdrawn. Domestic violence is a destructive action. Lives are destroyed and futures are damaged by this horrendous crime. Our community deserves better than a fabricated persona created by an institution, which has put a person’s fame before that of the women of their community. This is just another example of this board not hearing or caring for the reality of the women in their community. From the sexual assault of women at the parade to Osvaldo Rios being selected as the Padrino, this board has shown little if any respect to all women in particular Puerto Rican woman. This board needs to be more accountable and aware of the issue of violence against women and use their resources and connections to promote healthy manhood and equality amongst men and women. Mr. Rios and all men in our community would be better served by him using image and parade resources to invite men to a conversation on the issue and truly look for a solution to the problem.

Public figures and elected officials who have in the past been or are presently affiliated with this parade should all express their outrage at this selection. They should demand that the parade board immediately implement a zero tolerance policy for domestic violence and violence against women, and use their resources to shed light on the issue and invite men to the table to find and contribute to finding a solution to ending violence against women. This parade can use its mass appeal to help shape our future. We know that the men of today, where the boys of yesterday and the boys of today will the men of tomorrow. We have to make sure that all two million attending and millions watching this parade around the world get that message. We stand side by side by those who've already done so.

We ask the Board of Directors to rescind the Osvaldo Rios invitation and invite someone that our children, our men and our women can be proud of their example and serve as a role model for new generations of Puerto Rican in the United States

Puerto Rican men are offended by the election of Mr. Rios and demand the Board to choose a real representative of the Puerto Rican Community, a REAL MODEL that we all can appreciate and feel proud of.  Silence is the synonym of acceptance!

Vicente Alba
Executive Director
For A Better Bronx

Juan Ramos
Chair Person New York City Chapter - National Congress for Puerto Rican Rights

Mickey Meléndez
Wives without Rights Campaign

Jaime Rivera
Programs Coordinator
For A Better Bronx

Jaime Rivera Quiñones
“There’s nothing more toxic than division!” “¡No existe nada más tóxico que la división!” Jaime Rivera Quiñones