Ronald B. McGuitre writes:
The great Puerto Rican activist, Richie Perez died
yesterday in Sloan Kettering hospital in New York City. My tears
tonight are not for Richie, but for the poor
Youngbloods who never knew him, who never heard his
wisdom, never saw his courage on the streets or felt
his compassion, or basked in his brilliance. The poor
Youngbloods who never invited Richie to enough CUNY
teach-ins to teach them their history and tell them
his vision. Richie Perez, a founder of the Young
Lords, organizer for the 1969 Open Admissions strike,
scourge of the drug lords, protector of the South
Bronx, enemy of every racist cop who ever profiled a
Black, Latino or Asian youth.
Richie Perez was the Che
Guevera of New York City rising up from the ghetto
streets with a boundless love for the Youngbloods,
who experienced the oppression of every disrespected
soul from Puerto Rico to Palestine like they was his
personal fam.
He was a revolutionary.
Richie Perez is dead.
But Richie Perez lived before he died and he lived
every moment as a revolutionary. He never punked out
of a fight or forgot a friend.
Richie was for real, he walked the whole walk and even
metastatic cancer couldn't quench his love of life or
his belief in the Youngbloods he leaves behind at
CUNY, in the prisons, in the 'hoods and on the island.
If I can only meet my end with one tenth the courage
and dignity of Richie, then count me a hero. Visitors
came away from his deathbed crying because Richie was
cheering them up, In his last days he was scheming
about organizing against the coup in Haiti and the war
in Iraq, and worrying about Bush getting re-elected
and networking people.
Folks will be paying last respects to Richie and
giving condolences to his family at the Campbell
Funeral Home at 1076 Madison Avenue at 81st street on
Monday March 29th from 2-5 PM and 7-9 PM. There will
also be viewing hours on Tuesday, March 30th. For more
information call the funeral home at 212-288-3570 or a
hotline set up by Richie's comrades at 347-245-0266.
Hasta La Victoria Siempre!
Que Viva Richie Perez!
