On the 21st of August, 2016 I was invited to follow José Enrique García Oquendo and others to Caserio Manuel A Pérez, the second largest public housing project in the Caribbean and the Americas named for a former interim governor that under one of their brief administrations passed a law that would create the music schools of Boriken. It is the place where Jose was born, raised and still resides. The neighborhood also has a long history of class struggle.
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| Photo: Stevie Elepan |
From 9am till 3pm Jose and a coalition of different far left organizations such as Campamento Contra La Junta and Se Acabaron Las Promesas, the latter being the organizers for the 31st of August protest against the 1st PROMESA Conference at Condado Plaza Hilton. Block by block, 20+ participants and a PPT truck with large speakers called a “Tumba Coco” informing residents of PROMESA and the end of the month event.
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| Photo: Stevie Elepan |
Residents were receptive and the participants were respectful of the space they were in. The day was hot as we moved from one residents to another in the concrete miniature city. The people in this hood are resourceful and industrious, you could see small car shops and barber chairs in front of residential buildings. There are other clandestine business in the neighborhood so I had to limit my camera usage out of respect for the community. If Boriken ever broke ties with the United States these are folks that would help rebuild the economy. These are folks that make something from nothing every day.
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| Photo: Stevie Elepan |
Of course there was the classic heavy police presence, a huge two-story blue building next to the basketball court, cantina and public open air theater. The DPP is constantly reminding folks they are around with their large brutal buildings, helicopter fly byes and flashing police lights, the poorer the neighborhood the more police presence you will see. ACAB.
The day end with much-needed libations and dancing at the local cantina with residents. I myself felt burnt out in the 98-degree weather and my camera was on fire. I had a beer and a chicken empanadilla made and sold by one of the residents out of their window.
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| José Enrique García Oquendo briefs participants. Photo: Stevie Elepan |
Sometimes we get caught up in debating economic theories that we forget that there is practical work that we must do with the masses.Even those of us that are part of the working poor will separate ourselves from our class and forget to do the practical work .
It is not enough to recognize a problem, action must be taken. I praise Jose and his companer@s for the labor they put in that day. Be sure to join the action on the 31st of August 2016 at the Condado Plaza Hilton. You can participate by arriving at 8am on the day of the event or online by sharing messages of solidarity against Amerikkkan Imperialism and against PROMESA.
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| Photo: Stevie Elepan |
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| Photo: Stevie Elepan |
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| Photo: Stevie Elepan |
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| Photo: Stevie Elepan |
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| Photo: Stevie Elepan |
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| Photo: Stevie Elepan |
If you enjoyed this article check out Through Our Own Eyes at KBOO 90.7 FM and get a post card from Puerto Rico when you make a donation to our project before the 1st of November 2016.
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