I am writing this today to first of all say thank you for having been there for Richie Perez, his family and myself during this most difficult period of his passing. Today marks one month since Richie passed. It was a great support to have so many of you show your love during this trying time. The passing of our brother, friend, and comrade in the struggle has left a huge void in all who he touched personally as well as in the overall struggle for global justice. As a friend and comrade to Richie for the past 30 years, I personally feel the loss very deeply and feel privileged to have you all in my life to have experienced this difficult moment in love and peace.

Personally, it’s been hard to realize that I will no longer be able to call on him for advice, council, or simply as a friend. Many of us did and he was always there for us all. However, as most of you who knew Richie really well, he always had a plan on how to move forward. Before he passed, he told me several wishes he had and hoped that one day they would be accomplished. This was to “up the anti” and that the work must continue. I have been able to find consolation in knowing that I will continue doing what Richie has set out for us to do, and to keeping his memory alive. For me, this is in addition to the work I have been involved with (WBIA/Pacifica, Vieques, etc.)

There were 3 areas of work that Richie was particularly very involved in, and concerned about. These were the work of the Justice Committee of the NCPRR, voter participation, education and mobilization, and media advocacy.

Richie struggled against racial violence and police brutality for over three decades. For years Richie mentored younger people in all areas of the work in the Justice Committee. With the amazing quality that he had to teach young people he helped developed Jessica Sanclemente as the co-chair in the committee. Today Jessica has proven herself to be the unquestionable Coordinator and leader of the Justice Committee of the NCPRR. As supporters of the Justice Committee and of Richie’s work we should all support the work of the Justice Committee and Jessica as she goes about developing a strong leadership team to continue this area of work. I strongly urge you to subscribe to the Justice Committee group in order to be informed of this on-going area of work and Richie’s legacy. I would like to thank those hundreds of people who came out to support the demonstration for Manny Mayi who was killed in 1991 by a racist gang.

As Richie approached the end of his journey on this earth, his concerns were focused on the course this country has taken in a seemingly endless war effort aimed at those who oppose American foreign policies. His concerns were based on human suffering and the loss of innocent human life abroad and at home. He was particularly concerned about young, who through a poverty draft are being used as cannon fodder for the right wing agenda. His concerns were also about the on-going move towards the right that the "Bush" administration has been fueling, along with major concerns of the future of our people if the present administration were to continue for another 4 years. I share this concern as well, and I pledge to work towards keeping Richie’s memory alive for future young people, and to continue the work that is desperately needed.We are now in the early stages of planning a Memorial Tribute for Richie in late Sep or early Oct., around the sixth month anniversary. I will keep all informed.

Richie was a visionary and one of the first persons that sought to have activism break out of the box and include voter participation as one weapon in our arsenal. In the near future I will be reaching out to you to help in a voter registration and education campaign leading up to this years upcoming presidential elections. Again I ask you to sign up to the e-mail groups when the moment comes.

When Richie viewed the tape of the vigil and the many messages of love and support he received he asked us at his bedside “what do I have to do, die to have all these people work together?” Towards the end of his life, Richie asked me to ask all who loved and respected his work to "step it up". Today, I am writing to you to ask you to do just that. It is the only way that I can think to honor his memory. The first move in " stepping it up" is to sign up to the Justice Committee and Anti Bush groups. This is a way to stay informed as to what is going on in these areas of work and how to get involved.

La Lucha Continua

Panama