Tito Kayak’s Found Guilty in New York While -
Culpable Tito Kayak

José A. Laguarta


April 30, 2001

PRESS RELEASE / COMUNICADO DE PRENSA
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As the arrests continued in Vieques, over 30 New York-based Puerto Rican activists said "¡presente!" at the US Federal Courthouse at 500 Pearl Street, Manhattan, in support of environmental activist and folk-hero of the Vieques struggle, Alberto "Tito Kayak" de Jesús.

Tito was arrested, along with six other members of the Friends of Vieques Resistance Collective (CRAV), at the Statue of Liberty last November 5th, where they staged an act of protest against the Navy's presence in Vieques. Climbing alone out of an open window, Tito fastened flags of Puerto Rico and Vieques, as well as two gigantic banners reading "PEACE" and "VIEQUES" to the crown, while the others gave tactical support from the inside. All charges against five of the other six protesters have been dropped. Tito and university professor Gazir Sued have been singled out through political pressure, due to their previous encounters with the federal courts in Puerto Rico, over the course of the Vieques struggle.

From three original charges on Tito, all but "Criminal Trespassing" have been dropped. The reading of the verdict on Monday was supposed to have been the last hearing of his process. Instead, although he has been found guilty, he won't be sentenced until July 30 of the present year, because the state insists it needs the time to review Tito's record. His lawyer has insisted that this is unnecessary, since Tito has always been forefront about his protest activities, and nothing substantial to the case will change before July 30. Given his previous record, Tito may now be facing up to 2 years in federal prison.

The mood outside the courthouse when Tito finally came out was mixed. Supporters feared the decision was just a way of stalling until public support waned. At the same time, they were glad to see Tito again, and demonstrated their enduring commitment, chanting slogans and holding banners in support of Vieques and Tito Kayak, as well as the six remaining Puerto Rican political prisoners. They also distributed flyers and cards petitioning Gov. Pataki to step up his efforts in support of the people of Vieques.

The demonstration was generally well received by passers-by, with the exception of two heavy-set Caucasian gentlemen in suits who to all appearances had every intention of provoking a confrontation. The demonstrators, however, avoided this by exerting their usual degree of dignity and restraint.