Rubén Berríos
Encyclopedia
Rubén Ángel Berríos Martínez (born June 21, 1939) is a lawyer
, a Puerto Rican
politician
, and the current president of the Puerto Rican Independence Party
(PIP). A former Senator
, Berríos is a recurring PIP candidate for Governor of Puerto Rico
for three decades, although not consecutively for each elective term.
He led the Navy-Culebra protests
, is a leader for the Cause of Vieques and was arrested and imprisoned for civil disobedience
.
. He attended high school at Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola
(class of 1957). He received his bachelor's degree
in Business Administration and Economy from Georgetown University
in 1961, his Juris Doctor
and Master's Degree
in Law from Yale University
(Yale Law School
), and his doctoral degree in International Rights from Oxford University. He also did some post-doctoral research in Sweden. (his first wife was Swedish and his son Rubén was born in Stockholm
). He has been a tenured Professor of Law at the University of Puerto Rico School of Law since 1967.
As a lawyer, Berríos is the only man in Puerto Rican history
to be accredited by the International Court of Justice
.
Berríos became president of the Independence Party
PIP when he was 31 years old and has been president of it five times. Under his leadership, the PIP adopted a democratic socialist program. Although he has had limited success at the voting booth regarding his candidacy for the colonial post of Governor of Puerto Rico
in 1976, 1980, 1988, 2000 and 2004 - losing every time to either the Popular Democratic Party
(PPD) or the New Progressive Party
(PNP) candidate - he nevertheless has enjoyed great electoral success regarding his candidacy to the Senate, receiving more votes than any other candidates in the Puerto Rican senatorial elections of 1972, 1984, 1992 and 1996.
In 1972, the thirty-three year old Berríos was elected to his first term as Senator. He was also re-elected to senatorial seats at the Puerto Rican Legislative Assembly
on three additional occasions: 1984, 1992, and 1996.
Berríos founded the Permanent Conference of Political Parties of Latin America and the Caribbean (COPPPAL), is a member of the Executive Council of the Latin American Human Rights Association (ALDHU), and Honorary President of the Socialist International
(SI).
He has published the books The Independence of Puerto Rico: Cause and Struggle, Puerto Rico: Nationality and Plebiscite, and Towards the Puerto Rican Socialism, and has collaborated with various publications enjoying wide international prestige such as Foreign Affairs
.
Berríos is widely admired by many in Puerto Rico, including those who do not follow his political ideology. In 1984, for example, he received 84% of the general vote in his candidacy for Senator.
that criticized the United States Navy
's use of the island of Culebra, Puerto Rico
for military exercises. He squat
ted in Culebra's Flamenco Beach
for three days. He was then arrested and imprisoned for three months. As a consequence of his imprisonment, he was expelled from his professorship at the University of Puerto Rico School of Law.
In part because of his efforts, the U.S. Navy abandoned its facilities in Culebra.
On May 8, 1999 Berríos began camping inside the U.S. Navy bombing practice grounds in the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico
(see Navy-Vieques protests). He stayed in the Gilberto Concepción de Gracia
encampment — baptized in honor of the PIP founder — for 362 consecutive days, enduring both camp devastations due to storms and declining health dur to a new diagnosis of prostate cancer
.
On December 1999, he resigned to his Senate seat due to the uncertainty and prolongation of his stay at the encampment.
On May 4, 2000 the encampments were evacuated by federal marshals
and United States Marines, and Berrios was arrested. Berríos' arrest was televised nationally in Puerto Rico. The United States marshal that conducted the arrest offered a handshake
to Berríos when he presented himself. Berríos stayed in shock for a few seconds. Looking at the marshal's extended hand, he rapidly recovered himself and extended his own hand. Both men saluted themselves peacefully. His arrest was symbolic, as he was handcuffed loosely to not squeeze his wrists. The importance of the event was the portray of two gentlemen doing what they must do, respecting each other's different and contrasting ideologies, and responsibilities.
Five days later, Berríos reentered the target practice grounds, but this time he was not arrested without trial, as he was judged by the United States Court for the District of Puerto Rico (Federal District Court) and sentenced to four hours of detention. Similarly to what he did in Culebra 30 years before, Berríos did not recognize the jurisdiction of the American judicial forum in Puerto Rico, and did not present any legal defense whatsoever. A few days later, he publicly announced he was suffering from prostate cancer.
With the continuation of bombing practices by the U.S. Navy, Berríos announced his intention to enter to the restricted grounds for a third time. He stayed for five (5) days in the target practice area, before being arrested violently and forced to lay on an extremely hot gravel road for an extended period of time after being handcuffed with his hands to his back with the other PIP members that accompanied him at the U.S. Navy bombing range. This time, convicted for the fourth time (one in Culebra and three additional Civil-Disobedience propelled arrests) by a United States District Court, Berríos was sentenced to four months in prison and set free on August 30, 2001; after the imposed sentence was extinguished in full as the PIP's President and Honorary President of the [Socialist International] (SI) lay behind bars for one-hundred and twenty (120) additional days of prison, apart from the other prison terms that he has served.
The U.S. Navy abandoned its facilities in Vieques on May 1, 2003.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, a Puerto Rican
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and the current president of the Puerto Rican Independence Party
Puerto Rican Independence Party
The Puerto Rican Independence Party is a Puerto Rican political party that campaigns for the independence of Puerto Rico from United States suzerainty....
(PIP). A former Senator
Senate of Puerto Rico
The Senate of Puerto Rico is the upper house of the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, the territorial legislature of Puerto Rico. The Senate is composed of 27 senators, representing eight constituent senatorial districts across the commonwealth, with two senators elected per district; an...
, Berríos is a recurring PIP candidate for Governor of Puerto Rico
Governor of Puerto Rico
The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Since 1948, the Governor has been elected by the people of Puerto Rico...
for three decades, although not consecutively for each elective term.
He led the Navy-Culebra protests
Navy-Culebra protests
The Navy-Culebra protests is the name given by American media to a series of protests starting in 1971 on the island of Culebra, Puerto Rico against the United States Navy use of the island. The protests led to the U.S...
, is a leader for the Cause of Vieques and was arrested and imprisoned for civil disobedience
Civil disobedience
Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government, or of an occupying international power. Civil disobedience is commonly, though not always, defined as being nonviolent resistance. It is one form of civil resistance...
.
Biography
Berrios was born in Aibonito, Puerto RicoAibonito, Puerto Rico
Aibonito is a small mountain town in Puerto Rico located in the Mountain range of Cayey, north of Salinas; south of Barranquitas and Comerio; east of Coamo; and west of Cidra, and Cayey. Aibonito is spread over 8 wards and Aibonito Pueblo...
. He attended high school at Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola
Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola
Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola is a Catholic Jesuit college-preparatory school founded by the Society of Jesus in in 1952. The school was originally located in Santurce, but was moved to its current location by the Jesuit fathers in 1956. Colegio San Ignacio is the only Jesuit school in Puerto Rico...
(class of 1957). He received his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Business Administration and Economy from Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in 1961, his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
and Master's Degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Law from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
(Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
), and his doctoral degree in International Rights from Oxford University. He also did some post-doctoral research in Sweden. (his first wife was Swedish and his son Rubén was born in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
). He has been a tenured Professor of Law at the University of Puerto Rico School of Law since 1967.
As a lawyer, Berríos is the only man in Puerto Rican history
History of Puerto Rico
The history of Puerto Rico began with the settlement of the archipelago of Puerto Rico by the Ortoiroid people between 3000 and 2000 BC. Other tribes, such as the Saladoid and Arawak Indians, populated the island between 430 BC and 1000 AD. At the time of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New...
to be accredited by the International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
.
Berríos became president of the Independence Party
Puerto Rican Independence Party
The Puerto Rican Independence Party is a Puerto Rican political party that campaigns for the independence of Puerto Rico from United States suzerainty....
PIP when he was 31 years old and has been president of it five times. Under his leadership, the PIP adopted a democratic socialist program. Although he has had limited success at the voting booth regarding his candidacy for the colonial post of Governor of Puerto Rico
Governor of Puerto Rico
The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Since 1948, the Governor has been elected by the people of Puerto Rico...
in 1976, 1980, 1988, 2000 and 2004 - losing every time to either the Popular Democratic Party
Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth....
(PPD) or the New Progressive Party
New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico
The New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that advocates for Puerto Rico's admission to the United States of America as the 51st state...
(PNP) candidate - he nevertheless has enjoyed great electoral success regarding his candidacy to the Senate, receiving more votes than any other candidates in the Puerto Rican senatorial elections of 1972, 1984, 1992 and 1996.
In 1972, the thirty-three year old Berríos was elected to his first term as Senator. He was also re-elected to senatorial seats at the Puerto Rican Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a legislature, or to one of its branch.The name is used by a number of member-states of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as a number of Latin American countries....
on three additional occasions: 1984, 1992, and 1996.
Berríos founded the Permanent Conference of Political Parties of Latin America and the Caribbean (COPPPAL), is a member of the Executive Council of the Latin American Human Rights Association (ALDHU), and Honorary President of the Socialist International
Socialist International
The Socialist International is a worldwide organization of democratic socialist, social democratic and labour political parties. It was formed in 1951.- History :...
(SI).
He has published the books The Independence of Puerto Rico: Cause and Struggle, Puerto Rico: Nationality and Plebiscite, and Towards the Puerto Rican Socialism, and has collaborated with various publications enjoying wide international prestige such as Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs is an American magazine and website on international relations and U.S. foreign policy published since 1922 by the Council on Foreign Relations six times annually...
.
Berríos is widely admired by many in Puerto Rico, including those who do not follow his political ideology. In 1984, for example, he received 84% of the general vote in his candidacy for Senator.
Political Views
Berrios believes that there should be a change in the U.S. maritime laws that force Puerto Rico to import and export goods on U.S. ships. Such laws increase the price of products entering or leaving the island. He also believes that the U.S. Selective Service laws should not apply to Puerto Rico without the consent of the Puerto Rican legislature.Civil disobedience
In 1971, Berríos led the Navy-Culebra protestsNavy-Culebra protests
The Navy-Culebra protests is the name given by American media to a series of protests starting in 1971 on the island of Culebra, Puerto Rico against the United States Navy use of the island. The protests led to the U.S...
that criticized the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
's use of the island of Culebra, Puerto Rico
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Isla Culebra is an island-municipality of Puerto Rico originally called Isla Pasaje and Isla de San Ildefonso. It is located approximately east of the Puerto Rican mainland, west of St. Thomas and north of Vieques. Culebra is spread over 5 wards and Culebra Pueblo...
for military exercises. He squat
Squatting
Squatting consists of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied space or building, usually residential, that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have permission to use....
ted in Culebra's Flamenco Beach
Flamenco Beach
Flamenco Beach is a seaside resort in Puerto Rico, United States on the Island of Culebra.-Geography:Flamenco is located on the western shore of Culebra. The beach lies on a half-mile-wide, horseshoe strip of coast. The beach is bordered by the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge, which is of itself...
for three days. He was then arrested and imprisoned for three months. As a consequence of his imprisonment, he was expelled from his professorship at the University of Puerto Rico School of Law.
In part because of his efforts, the U.S. Navy abandoned its facilities in Culebra.
On May 8, 1999 Berríos began camping inside the U.S. Navy bombing practice grounds in the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico
Vieques, Puerto Rico
Vieques , in full Isla de Vieques, is an island–municipality of Puerto Rico in the northeastern Caribbean, part of an island grouping sometimes known as the Spanish Virgin Islands...
(see Navy-Vieques protests). He stayed in the Gilberto Concepción de Gracia
Gilberto Concepción de Gracia
Dr. Gilberto Concepción de Gracia was a lawyer, journalist, author, politician and founder of the Puerto Rican Independence Party.-Early years:Concepción de Gracia was born in the town of Vega Alta, Puerto Rico...
encampment — baptized in honor of the PIP founder — for 362 consecutive days, enduring both camp devastations due to storms and declining health dur to a new diagnosis of prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
.
On December 1999, he resigned to his Senate seat due to the uncertainty and prolongation of his stay at the encampment.
On May 4, 2000 the encampments were evacuated by federal marshals
United States Marshals Service
The United States Marshals Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice . The office of U.S. Marshal is the oldest federal law enforcement office in the United States; it was created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
and United States Marines, and Berrios was arrested. Berríos' arrest was televised nationally in Puerto Rico. The United States marshal that conducted the arrest offered a handshake
Handshake
A handshake is a short ritual in which two people grasp one of each other's like hands, in most cases accompanied by a brief up and down movement of the grasped hands.-History:...
to Berríos when he presented himself. Berríos stayed in shock for a few seconds. Looking at the marshal's extended hand, he rapidly recovered himself and extended his own hand. Both men saluted themselves peacefully. His arrest was symbolic, as he was handcuffed loosely to not squeeze his wrists. The importance of the event was the portray of two gentlemen doing what they must do, respecting each other's different and contrasting ideologies, and responsibilities.
Five days later, Berríos reentered the target practice grounds, but this time he was not arrested without trial, as he was judged by the United States Court for the District of Puerto Rico (Federal District Court) and sentenced to four hours of detention. Similarly to what he did in Culebra 30 years before, Berríos did not recognize the jurisdiction of the American judicial forum in Puerto Rico, and did not present any legal defense whatsoever. A few days later, he publicly announced he was suffering from prostate cancer.
With the continuation of bombing practices by the U.S. Navy, Berríos announced his intention to enter to the restricted grounds for a third time. He stayed for five (5) days in the target practice area, before being arrested violently and forced to lay on an extremely hot gravel road for an extended period of time after being handcuffed with his hands to his back with the other PIP members that accompanied him at the U.S. Navy bombing range. This time, convicted for the fourth time (one in Culebra and three additional Civil-Disobedience propelled arrests) by a United States District Court, Berríos was sentenced to four months in prison and set free on August 30, 2001; after the imposed sentence was extinguished in full as the PIP's President and Honorary President of the [Socialist International] (SI) lay behind bars for one-hundred and twenty (120) additional days of prison, apart from the other prison terms that he has served.
The U.S. Navy abandoned its facilities in Vieques on May 1, 2003.
Former professions or positions held
- Currently a professor at the University of Puerto Rico, School of Law (2006)
- Candidate for Governor of Puerto Rico (1976, 1980, 1988, 2000, 2004) - has never won
- Civil disobedient for the Navy-Culebra protestsNavy-Culebra protestsThe Navy-Culebra protests is the name given by American media to a series of protests starting in 1971 on the island of Culebra, Puerto Rico against the United States Navy use of the island. The protests led to the U.S...
(1971) and the Cause of Vieques (1999) - Lawyer
- President of Puerto Rican Independence Party (1970 to present)
- Professor of Law at the University of Puerto Rico (1967–1971)
- Senator of Puerto Rico (1972–1976, 1984–1988, 1993–1996)
Writings / Books / Speeches
- Berríos, Rubén (2004). Un Mapa Para la Ruta (A Road Map)].
- Berríos, Rubén (1997). Puerto Rico's Decolonization]. Foreign Affairs, Council on Foreign Affairs.
- Berríos, Rubén (August, 1973). The Independence of Puerto Rico: Cause and Struggle. Speech before the United Nations about colonialism in Puerto Rico.
- Berríos, Rubén. Towards the Puerto Rican Socialism." Puerto Rico.
- Berríos, Rubén. (1983) La Independencia de Puerto Rico: Razon y Lucha
Quotes
- "I have learned that you can win the battle over the most powerful of nations, the United States, if you have the moral force behind you." — Rubén Berríos (about his transforming experience after the sacrifices he had to make for the Navy-Vieques protests)
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- Latin American and Caribbean Congress in Solidarity with Puerto Rico's Independence
- Manuel Rodríguez OrellanaManuel Rodríguez OrellanaManuel Rodríguez Orellana is a legal scholar, lawyer, lecturer, columnist, published poet and political leader of the Puerto Rican Independence Movement...
, Esq. - PIP Secretary of Relations with North America