[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 11003-11004]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING THE LIFE OF DON RICARDO ALEGRIA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a towering figure 
in Puerto Rican history and culture. Puerto Rico and the world lost a 
pioneering and leading scholar last week with the passing of Don 
Ricardo Alegria.
  Don Ricardo Alegria devoted his long life to the affirmation of 
Puerto Rican national identity and culture. His study of the history 
and culture of the Taino Indians of Puerto Rico was groundbreaking 
work. By helping Puerto Ricans understand our Taino, African and other 
heritage, as well as many other important aspects of Puerto Rican 
history and culture, Don Ricardo helped us all to understand better who 
we are, where we come from and what being Puerto Rican truly means.

[[Page 11004]]

  But Don Ricardo Alegria was not only a scholar whose work was 
essential to the Puerto Ricans' understanding of our history; he was a 
determined and proud man who refused to let our culture be forgotten or 
destroyed. He was a founder and the executive director of the Institute 
of Puerto Rican Culture and of many other important research, cultural 
and educational institutions. In this role, he was a warrior, defending 
our cultural heritage.
  It is not an exaggeration to say that, without Don Ricardo's 
leadership and tenacity, the historic buildings and walls of Old San 
Juan, which are loved by Puerto Ricans and visited by tourists from 
around the world, may not be standing today. He led the fight to 
preserve Old San Juan and to make sure its historic significance was 
understood by all.

                              {time}  1010

  Ricardo Alegria was an example of what makes us all so proud to be 
Puerto Rican. He looked to a better future while treasuring our past. 
He embraced what makes Puerto Ricans unique, and he understood that we 
have our own identity; and we should never run away from it. We should 
celebrate it. And without history and without question, he loved our 
people and our history. I offer Don Ricardo Alegria my humble thanks 
and gratitude for his commitment to Puerto Rico, his leadership for our 
people, and the way he elevated our history and our culture.
  At this time of crisis for Puerto Rico, a time when many in power 
seem to have forgotten the traits that make us ``us,'' make our island 
our island, and make our history our history, Don Ricardo was very 
supportive of my work in Congress. The inspiration of towering Puerto 
Rican figures like Don Ricardo motivate me to speak out on this floor 
and denounce attacks on the civil and human rights of Puerto Ricans. 
These attacks come from the same quarters Don Ricardo fought all his 
life. They come from those who seek to destroy the national culture and 
identity of the island of Puerto Rico. And they have not succeeded and 
will never succeed because there will always be Puerto Ricans like Don 
Ricardo standing defiantly, proudly, and courageously in their way.
  This fact was driven home right here in Congress just yesterday, 
Madam Speaker, at a well-attended briefing conducted by the ACLU, the 
National Institute for Latino Policy, and the Puerto Rican Legal 
Defense and Education Fund.
  As part of their briefing, these organizations showed a video 
depicting the many scenes of violence by the police of Puerto Rico 
against unarmed and peaceful protestors. I have seen this video, and I 
am certain that many Members that see these images would be moved to 
indignation and action. That these scenes happen under the American 
flag and that these abuses are committed against American citizens is 
simply shameful. If any of my colleagues saw these images, I am sure 
they would feel the same indignation I felt when I saw them.
  Madam Speaker, it is out of my deep concern for the people of Puerto 
Rico that I wish to inform my colleagues that I have sent a letter 
today to Attorney General Eric Holder. This letter requests the release 
of any and all documents and information regarding contacts by 
officials or representatives and lobbyists of the Government of Puerto 
Rico with the U.S. Department of Justice and their civil rights 
division into the very serious allegations of systematic police 
brutality in Puerto Rico, an investigation that is over 2 years old.
  I have requested this information under the Freedom of Information 
Act because public reports allege that the Government of Puerto Rico is 
using its well-paid top Washington lobbyists and other resources to 
thwart the release of the Justice Department reports. The reports are 
based on lobbying disclosure forms that do not give much detail on 
exactly what the lobbyists are doing for the Government of Puerto Rico. 
Given the recent history of the ruling party of Puerto Rico trying to 
act with impunity and in secrecy, these published reports have raised 
serious doubts in my mind.
  So, Madam Speaker, I want to make it clear, while there may not be 
transparent and open government in Puerto Rico or a Freedom of 
Information Act there, as far as the Federal Government is concerned, 
the secrecy and the impunity of the regime in Puerto Rico ends here.

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