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For Immediate Release: Wednesday, July
21, 2004.
Contact: Tony Newman (212) 613-8026; Elizabeth
Mendez Berry (212) 613-8036
Albany Legislators Reconvene
July 20th and 21st for Rockefeller Talks
Hard-hitting Ads Expose Impact
of Bush’s War in Iraq and NY Governor Pataki’s
Draconian Drug Laws on Latino Community
Ads Run in Major Spanish-Language
Publications: D.C.’s El Tiempo and N.Y.’s
El Diario and Hoy
Both Governor George Pataki and
President George Bush have systematically wooed
Latino voters, but according to community leaders,
their sweet words have not translated into actions.
This August when the Republican National Convention
arrives in New York, Pataki will continue his
PR campaign by hosting an “Amigos” party
for Spanish speakers.
Hard-hitting ads created by the
Mothers of the New York Disappeared, a group of
people who have had their lives destroyed by the
Rockefeller drug laws, which is predominantly
Latino and African American, have run in New York’s
two most popular Spanish-language papers, El Diario
and Hoy. This Friday in Washington’s El Tiempo,
another powerful ad will run, addressing the fact
that many Latinos are either being sent to fight
in Iraq by Bush, or sent to prison by Pataki,
because of the Rockefeller drug laws, and highlighting
the negative impact of both politicians’
policies on the Latino community (93% of those
incarcerated under the Rockefeller drug laws are
Latino and African American despite roughly equal
drug use across the races).
“Pataki is hosting this
fiesta to take advantage of the fact that the
nation’s eyes will be on New York. But he
hasn’t been a real amigo to Latinos, he’s
been a fair-weather friend,” said Randy Credico
of the Mothers of the New York Disappeared. “While
campaigning in Latino communities, he gave lip
service to reforming the Rockefeller drug laws,
but talk is cheap. The reality is that he’s
the main obstacle to Rockefeller reform.”
In addition to the series of
ads, a coalition of Latino leaders has united
to tell Pataki to keep his promises. The group
will hold a press conference on Friday July 23rd
on New York’s city hall steps. The coalition
includes State Assemblyman Peter Rivera and City
Councilman Jose Serrano Jr., community leaders
Dennis de Leon, President of the Latino Commission
on AIDS, Lorraine Cortes-Vasquez , President of
the Hispanic Federation, and Romeo Sanchez of
the Alliance for Inmates with AIDS, survivors
of the Rockefeller drug laws like George Prendes,
and activists including Julie Colon, whose mother
was incarcerated under the Rockefeller Laws, as
well as advocates Maria Perez, Deputy Director
of the Drug Policy Alliance, and Rev. Luis Barrios.
“Saying a few words in Spanish
or having a salsa party once every four years
doesn’t cut it,” said María Pérez,
deputy director of the Drug Policy Alliance. “Latinos
know that the Rockefeller drug laws are having
a devastating impact on our communities, we know
who’s responsible for keeping those laws
in place, and we know how to hold them responsible.”
This
ad will run in Washington DC’s El Tiempo
on Friday, July 23, 2004.
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