Serrano Congratulates Berríos Martínez on Receiving Prestigious Colosio Order of Merit Medal from COPPPAL

Bronx, NY June 2, 2005- Today, Congressman José E. Serrano (D-NY) congratulated famed Puerto Rican independence leader Rubén Berríos Martínez for being honored by the Permanent Conference of Political Parties of Latin America (COPPPAL) with the "Luis Donaldo Colosio Medal of the Order of Latin American Merit," named in memory of the progressive former Mexican leader assassinated while running for president in 1994.

“Rubén Berríos is a real boricua hero, a man who has fought all his life for the decolonization of the island,” said Serrano.  “For too long, he was one of the lone voices in the wilderness, calling attention to the atrocious and unacceptable colonial relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico.  COPPPAL has honored a fighter for Latin American self-determination and decolonization, and I congratulate him today.”

Berríos Martínez, president of the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP), was presented with the medal in the 25th anniversary conference of COPPPAL, hosted in Buenos Aires by Argentinean President Nestor Kirchner.  Berríos Martínez served 12 years as a Puerto Rican senator, and was a leader in the fight to draw attention to the destructive naval bombing of the Puerto Rican island of Vieques—he camped out within the bombing range for nearly a year before being arrested.  A Yale Law School graduate, he is the author of numerous books and articles about Puerto Rican independence and politics and is widely respected on all sides of the Puerto Rican political spectrum for his integrity and independence.

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Congressman José E. Serrano has represented the Bronx, New York, in Congress since 1990.  He is the most senior Member of Congress of Puerto Rican descent.