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<font size=3><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUy-cglbAGg">
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUy-cglbAGg<br><br>
</a><b>Subject:</b> Revised: Text of LVG's speech<br>
<br>
<b>Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez<br>
Address to House of Representatives<br>
March 2, 2011<br>
</b> <br>
Two weeks ago I spoke about a serious problem in Puerto Rico. <br>
<br>
The problem is a systemic effort by the ruling party to deny the right of
the people to speak freely, to criticize their government openly, and to
make their voices heard. <br>
<br>
I talked about student protests that had been met with violent resistance
by Puerto Rican police. I talked about closed meetings of the
legislature, and about efforts to silence the local Bar
Association. <br>
<br>
I was not the first to speak about it. And I could have said much
more.<br>
<br>
The report, "Human Rights Crisis in Puerto Rico: First Amendment
Under Siege" is searing.<br>
<br>
It details the complaints of students, legislators, the press, and the
general public who were beaten and pepper sprayed by police.<br>
<br>
Female students who were treated with gross disrespect by the
police.<br>
<br>
The government's overreaction to demonstrations at the University and at
the Capitol over the budget cuts and layoffs.<br>
<br>
[NEXT PIC]<br>
<br>
This is the Capitol building.<br>
<br>
[NEXT PIC]<br>
<br>
This is how the police dealt with protesters.<br>
<br>
[NEXT PIC]<br>
<br>
The images of police tactics and behavior explain why the Department of
Justice is investigating the Puerto Rican police for “excessive
force" and "unconstitutional searches.”<br>
<br>
How could you see these images and not speak out?<br>
<br>
And I was hardly the first to speak out about these matters and will not
be the last.<br>
<br>
[NEXT PIC: PR DAILY SUN]<br>
<br>
As a member of Congress, it is more than my right - <u>it is my
obligation</u> - to speak out when fundamental freedoms are
attacked. <br>
<br>
And what was the response to my speech defending the right of the Puerto
Rican people to be heard?<br>
<br>
It was to challenge <i><u>my</u></i> right to be heard.<br>
<br>
The resident commissioner of Puerto Rico said that <u>only he</u> is
authorized to speak about Puerto Rico in this body. <br>
<br>
This week the Puerto Rico legislature debated a resolution of censure
- yes, censure -- condemning me for speaking out against these
abuses. <br>
<br>
A leading member of the ruling party even said, 'Gutierrez was not born
in Puerto Rico. His kids weren’t born in Puerto Rico.
Gutierrez doesn't plan on being buried in Puerto Rico…So Gutierrez
doesn't have the right to speak about Puerto Rico.'<br>
<br>
Let me tell you something.<br>
<br>
If you see injustice anywhere, it is not only your right but your duty to
speak out about it. <br>
<br>
We don't speak out against injustice, or Apartheid, or human rights
abuses, or the denial of rights to women in places around the world
because we ourselves were born there.<br>
<br>
That's silly. <br>
<br>
Where we see injustice we speak out because it is the right thing to
do.<br>
<br>
Ironically, by questioning my right to speak out on behalf of free
speech, they have made my point crystal clear. By challenging my
free speech, they have amplified the words of my five minute speech more
than if I had spoken for five hours. <br>
<br>
And it is their right. My critics have the right of free-speech
even as they deny that same right to others.<br>
<br>
And I want them to understand this: <br>
<br>
Your efforts to silence me, just like your efforts to silence so
many people in Puerto Rico who disagree with you -- will fail, just as
every effort to blockade progress only makes the march toward justice
more powerful and swift.<br>
<br>
I may not be Puerto Rican enough some people, but I know this: nowhere on
earth will you find a people harder to silence than Puerto Ricans.
<br>
<br>
You won’t locate my love for Puerto Rico on my birth certificate or a
driver’s license, my children's birth certificate or any other piece of
paper.<br>
<br>
My love for Puerto Rico is right here -- in my heart -- a heart that
beats with our history and our language and our heroes.<br>
<br>
A place where -- when I moved there as a teenager -- people talked and
argued and debated because we care deeply about our island and our
future. <br>
<br>
That’s still true today - and that freedom is still beating in the hearts
of university students, working men and women, labor leaders, lawyers,
and environmentalists and every person who believes in free speech.
<br>
<br>
You will not silence them, and you will not silence me.<br>
<br>
Abraham Lincoln, a leader who valued freedom above all else, said: <br>
<br>
“Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.” <br>
<br>
It’s good advice, and I hope Puerto Rican leaders take it. <br>
<br>
---<br>
<br>
I request unanimous consent that the ACLU of Puerto Rico report,
"Human Rights Crisis in Puerto Rico: First Amendment Under
Siege" be entered into the record.<br>
<br>
I further request unanimous consent that a statement by the President of
the Service Employees International Union be entered into the record and
that the essay, "Exposing the Shadows of Civil Rights in Puerto
Rico" by the National Puerto Rican Coalition, also be entered into
the record.<br>
<br>
[END]<br>
<br>
Douglas G. Rivlin <br>
Press Secretary<br>
Office of Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (IL-04)<br>
U.S. House of Representatives<br>
2266 Rayburn HOB<br>
Washington, DC 20515-1304<br>
<br>
<a href="mailto:douglas.rivlin@mail.house.gov">
douglas.rivlin@mail.house.gov</a> //
<a href="http://twitter.com/douglasrivlin" eudora="autourl">
http://twitter.com/douglasrivlin<br>
</a>phone: (202) 225-8203 // fax: (202) 225-7810<br>
Follow <a href="http://www.gutierrez.house.gov/">Congressman
Gutierrez</a> on
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/repgutierrez">Twitter</a>,
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/RepGutierrez">Facebook</a>, and
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/RepLuisGutierrez">YouTube</a>.<br>
<br><br>
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