PEP July-Aug. 2002: Latino power on the march

By ALFREDO ALVARADO

At both the April Somos El Futuro conference in Albany and the huge Puerto Rican Day parade June 2 in New York City, Latino union activists and elected officials united to demand that the U.S. Navy stop using the inhabited Puerto Rican island of Vieques for target practice.

"Let's be concerned about the children who are being bombarded by their own government," said New York State Comptroller H. Carl McCall April 20 at a rally during the conference. DC 37 recently endorsed him in the Sept. 10 Democratic Party primary election for governor (see DC 37 backs Carl McCall).

Somos el Futuro (We are the future) brought together hundreds of Latino activists and politicians from all over the state to discuss a range of important issues, including economic development, health insurance, domestic violence, the Rockefeller drug laws and safety in the workplace.

The conference included a labor breakfast, where Bronx Congressman José Serrano, Assemblyman José Rivera and New York State Attorney General Elliot Spitzer spoke of the power of the labor movement in politics.

Congressman Serrano told a story about a recent election night he spent with his son, who was running for City Council. "He asked if I thought he could win. I wasn't sure," recalled Serrano. "Then all of a sudden a van pulls up with dozens of union volunteers. I turned to him and told him we would win."

Santos Crespo, executive vice president of Local 372, felt that it was appropriate that labor be honored at the Somos conference. "We played a significant role in founding this conference, especially Local 372," said Mr. Crespo.
Peace in Vieques was also the rallying cry as a spirited DC 37 contingent marched down Fifth Ave. with hundreds of thousands of proud participants in the annual Puerto Rican Day parade.

"Our message is that the Navy has to leave," said Mr. Crespo, who was part of the enthusiastic DC 37 group led by Latino Heritage CommitteeChair Magda DeJesus, president of Local 1219, and Co-chair José Sierra, director of the Blue Collar Division.

"It's not an issue of patriotism, because Puerto Ricans have fought and died in every war for this country."

From the state capitol down to New York City's fashionable Fifth Avenue, DC 37 members have taken the lead as labor's Latino activists show the world that their political muscle is growing rapidly.