Our Point of View About the National Puerto Rican Day Parade Controversies

What You Should Know
By Senator Rev Rubén Díaz
32nd Senatorial District
718-991-3161

Our Point of View About the National Puerto Rican Day Parade Controversies
 
You should know that in response to the controversy created by the National Puerto Rican Day Parade Board of Directors about Oscar López Rivera’s participation in this year’s Parade, and their decision to honor him with the title of “National Freedom Hero,” the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization met and voted unanimously on the following three points:
 
(1)  As a compassionate and humanitarian gesture toward Oscar López Rivera, after   serving for 35 years in prison, do we think he should he be allowed to participate in the 2017 National Puerto Rican Day Parade? 

The New York Hispanic Clergy Organization voted: YES.

(2)  Did the Board of Directors of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade go too far by creating and giving the title of “National Freedom Hero” to Oscar López Rivera, causing great controversy and division in the Puerto Rican community not only in Puerto Rico but also here in New York?

The New York Hispanic Clergy Organization voted: YES.

(3)  Should GOYA Foods reconsider their decision to not participate in this year’s National Puerto Rican Day Parade because of how detrimental it will be for the Parade and to the Puerto Rican community as a whole, affecting scholarships for our children and giving reason for other companies to abandon the Parade, creating an uncertain future for the Parade and what it means to Puerto Ricans throughout the world?

The New York Hispanic Clergy Organization voted: YES.
 
The New York Hispanic Clergy Organization represents thousands and thousands of Evangelical Christians not only here in New York, but also in the tri-state area. Many of these ministers and clergy not only serve as pastors for their own congregations, but they also sit on Boards and serve as members of various religious, private and not-for-profit organizations. 

The New York Hispanic Clergy Organization hopes that Goya Foods and the other corporate sponsors of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade will take our point of view under consideration.
 
I am Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz, and this is what you should know.