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Brooklyn criminal court Hispanic Heritage celebration: Keep Puerto Rico in your prayers

October 30, 2017 By Rob Abruzzese, Legal Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Brooklyn Criminal Court recently held a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration which, like many other similar events, was focused on the devastating fallout from multiple hurricanes that hit the Caribbean. Pictured from left: Hon. Reinaldo Rivera, Hon. Evelyn Laporte and Hon. Frederick Arriaga. Eagle photos by Rob Abruzzese

Brooklyn Criminal Court recently held a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration which, like many other similar events, was focused on the devastating fallout from multiple hurricanes that hit the Caribbean. Pictured from left: Hon. Reinaldo Rivera, Hon. Evelyn Laporte and Hon. Frederick Arriaga. Eagle photos by Rob Abruzzese

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The annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations thrown by Brooklyn courthouses are typically some of the most colorful and joyous celebrations the courts throw, but this year’s theme has been overshadowed by the devastating hurricanes that recently hit the Caribbean.

Held more than a month since the hurricanes hit land, Friday’s celebration at the Brooklyn Criminal Court featured speakers pleading for people not to forget that Puerto Rican citizens and other islands are still dealing with the tragic fallout.

“The media might have moved on from what happened in Puerto Rico and other places, but we know what they’re still going through,” said Justice Evelyn J. Laporte. “That’s why we’re dedicating this event to the victims of the hurricanes in the Caribbean and the earthquake in Mexico.”

Laporte served as the mistress of ceremonies for the event and Justice Frederick Arriaga was scheduled to be the keynote speaker. However, Arriaga shortened his speech to give Court Officer Daniel Vega time to speak about what he saw when he visited his family members in Puerto Rico a few weeks earlier.

“We hadn’t heard from my family outside of San Juan. There wasn’t a lot of news about what was happening, so my girlfriend and I made arrangements to go check on them,” said Vega, who works in the Family Court. “When you fly in, you can immediately see the devastation because what is usually a green island covered in trees was brown because most of them had been ripped out of the ground.”

Vega explained that his family, who live southwest of San Juan, was spared from the worst of the devastation as their houses were not destroyed. However, he said that they, like many, still didn’t have running water or electricity even a month after the hurricanes had passed through.

“The lack of coordination between agencies and volunteer groups was evident,” Vega said. “My girlfriend and I tried to volunteer and they said they would call us, which was impossible considering there was no phone service. It’s not in the news anymore, but I ask that you keep the people of Puerto Rico in your prayers. They need help. They still need donations, everything that you need for daily life, they need it.”

Despite the dire message, parts of the event were upbeat. After Cassandra Allen performed the national anthem and Judge Chris Robles led the Pledge of Allegiance, Marisol Ramirez performed a dance piece that had everyone in the courthouse lobby tapping their feet.

Acting DA Eric Gonzalez was celebrated for being the first elected Hispanic district attorney in New York state’s history. Gonzalez also called out judges-elect Connie Melendez and Patria Frias-Colon for being the first-ever elected Cuban born and Dominican born judges, respectively.

“It’s important to have people working in the criminal justice system who look like us,” Gonzalez said. “When I appeared before the court and there were judges of color on the bench, it meant a lot to me. It gave me something to look up to and something to aspire to. It also made me better because I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of them. I made sure I was prepared so they could see that I was representing my community well.”

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