 Packed Auditorium Celebrates Activist
Richie Perez
by Juan Antonio Ocasio Rivera
Indymedia, March 5, 2004
Former Young Lord and National Congress
of Puerto Rican Rights co-founder Richie Pérez was honored
last night during a prayer vigil. Pérez, who is seriously
ill, has consistently battled on the front lines against police
brutality, Puerto Rico independence, human rights, and other important
issues. The event witnessed an overwhelming outpouring of love
and support for him.
Pérez, who is seriously ill,
only recently chose to disclose his most recent struggle, which prompted
a flurry of activity in order to put together this most electrifying
prayer vigil.
Longtime friend and fellow activist
Vincente 'Panama' Alba offered an eloquent tribute to his comrade,
calling him the "brightest individual" he has ever met and using
Mr. Pérez as an example of Che Guevara's infamous statement
describing love as the motivation of a true revolutionary. Mr. Alba,
or 'Panama' as he is affectionately known, also warmly relayed the
wishes of Mr. Pérez, who preferred to keep his illness private.
Drawing laughter and applause, Panama
expressed that Richie is not worried about himself but about the
upcoming election, the potential consequences of four more years
of a Bush administration, about police brutality, and about Haiti,
among other things. He expressed that Mr. Pérez hoped to bring
together people that have not seen each other in years and who have
not spoken to each other in years during such a tribute, a consequence
of the trying times of the later years of the Young Lords Party and
other revolutionary organizations of the 1970s.
Having everyone stand up and hug each
other, Panama stated that everyone just got a hug from Richie. Showcasing
his friend's unstinting commitment to his people and his community,
Mr. Alba described him as "not a Puerto Rican revolutionary, but...a
revolutionary." Luis Garden Acosta, former Young Lord and founder
of El Puente in Brooklyn, and Fr. Luis Barrios, Episcopalian priest,
activist, and writer, were the emcees for the evening, which began
with a message of solidarity from Dennis Rivera, head of 1199 and
who sponsored the event.
There was so much history in one room,
so much revolutionary spirit and comeraderie that it was infectious.
There were smiles and kisses exchanged all across the room, but there
were tears and faces tight with concern. The room was literally buzzing,
aglow as old friends and comrades exchanged greetings and hugs in
front of posters and pictures of Richie. It was a packed auditorium
in a building named for a great civil rights leader and here we were,
celebrating an equally great revolutionary leader.
Familiar faces were ever present: Former
Young Lords Pablo Guzman, Micky Melendez, Denise Oliver, Gloria Fontanez,
Luis Garden Acosta, Panama Alba; State Assemblyman Jose Rivera (with
his trusty video camera, of course); Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez;
Councilman Guillermo Linares; former El Diario Editor in Chief Gerson
Borrero; and a slew of activists, friends, and family members eager
to share in the spirit and legacy of Richie Pérez.
The multi-denominational service drew
the likes of Father Luis Barrios ("Lo que se quiere no muere" - "That
which is loved does not die"), and representatives from the traditions
of Yoruba (who honored Richie's work and prayed for his peaceful
passing to "the Bright Land of the Ancestors"), Islam (who urged
all to allow a psychological death with the ego, to be re-born in
absolute love for humanity, and to live in sacrifice), Judaism (who
stated that Richie brought light to the world and now we must bring
light to him and to the world, the light of freedom and justice).
A Nation of Islam representative also
paid tribute to him and a final representative held a brief meditation
session, bringing the audience to a dead silence as they all searched
themselves for positive energy and good memories to send to their
ailing Richie. When she asked the audience for words that were brought
to mind when thinking of him, people shouted out words such as "brother", "tough", "consistency", "revolutionary", "teacher",
and the one that drew spirited laughter, smiles, and enthusiastic
applause, "cojones."
Emcee
Luis Garden Acosta passionately announced to sustained applause that
similar prayer vigils were being held in Alberquerque, New Mexico
and in Oakland, California, bringing a national presence to Richie
Pérez and to his respected work and dedication. The event,
which was being recorded so that Mr. Pérez is able to watch
it, stood out for the vast and overwhelming love and energy that
was present for him, including the spontaneous singing of the revolutionary "La
Borinqueña" that took place at the end.
All of the speakers testified about
their enormous respect for Richie and their desire for him to find
peace, whether through healing or through peaceful transition. Similarly,
what stood out beyond all else was Richie's explicit demand and desire
that everyone present re-commit themselves to the struggle for "global
justice"; that everyone present donate not money nor flowers to him,
but donate money to the Justice Committee of the National Congress
of Puerto Rican Rights and more importantly, to donate themselves
to the struggle for the betterment of humanity.
That, in essence, is the only fitting
tribute that we could offer a true revolutionary like our own Richie
Pérez. May he find healing and peace and may we be ready to "throw
down" against injustice as readily as he always was.
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