Puerto Rican Civil Rights Groups, Community Leaders and mothers call on NYS and NYC Government candidates and leaders to address Puerto Rican disparities.
New York, NY (October 31, 2010) – On the eve of Tuesday’s election, Puerto Rican civil rights groups, elected officials, community leaders and mothers gathered on the City Hall steps today to demand that the gubernatorial candidates outline strategies to direct resources and decrease the economic and social disparities besetting New York City’s Puerto Rican youth.
Organizers also called on Mayor Bloomberg to charge his Administration to work with community leaders to grapple with these problems. On Friday, October 29th, The New York Times announced the pending release of a report by the Community Service Society, which reveals that, across a variety of indicators from employment and poverty, to education and health statistics, Puerto Rican youth, 16 to 24 years old, are the most disadvantaged of all ethnic groups in New York City.
“The Puerto Rican Community has contributed greatly to this City – we have opened the door for countless Latinos from all over the world, but we find ourselves still holding the door,” said Elizabeth Yeampierre, executive director of UPROSE (United Puerto Rican Organization of Sunset Park), Brooklyn’s oldest Latino community-based organization. “The needs of our youth and community require particular attention. We call on the gubernatorial candidates to tell Puerto Rican New Yorkers how they will work with community leaders to reduce the unacceptable economic disparities confronting Puerto Ricans.”
“We stand with our Puerto Rican young people. It is disheartening to me that the children of New York City’s oldest Latino community have been forgotten. Because of Puerto Ricans’ unique status as both U.S. citizens and immigrants at the same time, Puerto Rican youth experience a unique set of concerns related to self-identity, migration, access to services, and other issues,” said Iris Morales, long-time educator and community activist.
Source: Elizabeth C. Yeampierre.
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>This is not limited to Puerto Rican youth. Puerto Rican adults are experiencing similar conditions. It is not about the government and what they are doing to do. It is about the Puerto Rican community and what it will do for itself.There are no excuses.