The NYPD’s rand-and-file union, the Patrolman’s Benevolent Association (PBA) became the latest group to announce they were boycotting this year’s National Puerto Rican Day Parade on June 11 in protest of parade orgnaizers honoring Puerto Rican militant nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera.
Rivera, a former leader of the Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional (FALN) was released from house arrest on Wednesday after spending nearly 36 years of a 70-year sentence for seditious conspiracy, the use of force to commit robbery and several other non-violent felonies in association with FALN. The radical group claimed responsibility for over 100 bombings in New York, Chicago and other cities, including the infamous Fraunces Tavern bombing and the bombing of four government buildings that seriously injured three NYPD officers in the 1980s.
The PBA joins a growing list of politicians and organizations who have announced they will not support the 60th Annual Puerto Rican Day Parade, including Sen. Marty Goldman (R-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach), the Rafael Ramos Foundation and the NYPD Hispanic Society.
“New York City police officers risk their lives daily to protect all the people of New York City from the very acts of terrorism perpetrated by Oscar Rivera Lopez and the FALN,” said PBA President Patrick J. Lynch.
As the city remains divided on Rivera’s position as hero or terrorist so do local politicians. City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito was in Puerto Rico for Rivera’s much anticipated release from house arrest.
“Oscar represents the voice, tenacity and resolve of Puerto Rico and its struggles,” said Mark-Viverito. “His release is not only a win for our Island, but for our country’s democracy and criminal justice system—and that’s why I’m proud that tireless advocacy led to President Obama granting Oscar clemency.”
But Golden blasted Mark-Viverito’s support of Lopez citing his association with a group that was responsible for the “senseless murder of Frank Connor and three other innocent people.”
“City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito’s decision to honor an unremorseful terrorist leader Oscar Lopez Rivera as a “National Freedom Hero” at this year’s Puerto Rican Day parade is delusional, callous and insensitive,” said Golden, a former NYPD officer.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said he will not boycott the parade. “The organization he [Lopez] was affiliated with did things I don’t agree with, obviously, and they were illegal,” de Blasio told reporters. “All things considered, I understand why so many Puerto Ricans in this city respect that he fought for Puerto Rico, in their eyes. I don’t agree with the way he did it. But he did serve his time.”
