Puerto Rican
Today I Thought of My Friend Richie Perez
Today I thought of our friend Richie Perez who tragically died three years ago of cancer. He was truly a great spirit. Among many other things, he was a Young Lord, a teacher, an activist, and a visionary. Richie faught against so many things with absolute dedication. He took on issues of police brutality, racism in our educational system, prisoners' rights, and the rights of Puerto Rican people. He became a strong advocate with a powerful voice. Above all, I admired Richie's ability to connect and communicate with young people. He knew how to listen and create meaningful dialogue about critical issues of our time.
Richie was also highly intuitive and I believe that he was able to take the pulse of an entire community and push for progressive political and social reform. He was one of the first male activists I ever met that learned to question gender discrimination and women's rights issues within people of color communities. He knew how to effectively communicate the key issues that intersect race and gender. He was a gifted educator in this way.
Many of Richie's teachings had a strong impact on my beliefs. I believe that his work and philosophy have touched the lives of many people. If you want to learn more about who Richie Perez was, you can go to http://www.cssny.org/pubs/urbanagenda/2004_04_01.html
Open Thread | Activism | Civil Rights | Community Service Society | Puerto Rican | Race | Richie Perez | Young Lords | Community Service Society | National Congress for Puerto Rican Rights | New York City | Puerto Rico | The Justice Committee
First Known NYC Protest of 2007
Community and Student organizers throughout New York City are being asked to come to an urgent meeting to support the beleaguered City College Guillermo Morales/Assata Shakur Community and Student Center on Wednesday, January 3rd at 6:30 PM at Our Lady Of Lourdes Church at 463 West 142nd Street between Convent and Amsterdam Avenues in Harlem.
The nearest subway stops are 145th Street on the A/B/C/D or the #1 trains
The Morales/Shakur Community Center has moved the meeting off campus because the last two community meetings at the City College were disrupted by the CUNY SAFE team and CCNY security which barred community members from coming to Community Center..
Since the Daily News published a front page article attacking the Community Center, City College has removed the sign naming the Center, has threatened the students at the center with disciplinary penalties if they replace the sign and has threatened to review the Community Center's use of the room where the Center has been located for almost 18 years.
Since 1989 the Morales/Shakur Community Center has been a vital link between City College students and the Harlem and North Manhattan communities. The Center's name symbolizes the decision of the Black, Puerto Rican and Dominican students who founded the Center to connect their struggle for educational democracy with the struggles of the 1960's for liberation and self determination epitomized by Guillermo and Assata.
City College Guillermo Morales/ Assata Shakur Community Center
Black | City College | Culture | New York City | Progressive politics | Puerto Rican | Race | Students | Assata Shakur | City College Guillermo Morales/Assata Shakur Community | Guillermo Morales | New York
