Rubén Berríos

Biography

Berríos was born in Aibonito, Puerto Rico. He attended high school at Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola. 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, and his doctoral degree in International Rights from Oxford University. He was also a law professor for the University of Puerto Rico from 1967 to 1971.

Related Topics:
Aibonito - Puerto Rico - Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola - Bachelor's degree - Georgetown University - Juris Doctor - Master's Degree - Yale - Doctoral degree - Oxford University - University of Puerto Rico

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As a lawyer, Berrios is the only man in Puerto Rican history to be accredited by the international court.

Related Topics:
Puerto Rican history - International court

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Berrios became president of the PIP when he was 31 years old and has been president of it five times. Under his leadership, the PIP adopted a democratic socialism program. Although he has had little success at the voting booth, he ran for Governor of Puerto Rico in 1972, 1976, 1980, 1988, and 2000; losing all times to either the Popular Democratic Party (PPD) or the New Progressive Party (PNP) candidate.

Related Topics:
Governor of Puerto Rico - 1972 - 1976 - 1980 - 1988 - 2000 - Popular Democratic Party - New Progressive Party

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In 1972, he is elected as Senator for the first time. He later returns to the Legislative Assembly in 1984, 1992, and 1996.

Related Topics:
Legislative Assembly - 1984 - 1992 - 1996

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Berrios 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). http://www.copppal.org.mx http://www.unesco.org/danida/aldhu.htm http://www.socialistinternational.org/6Meetings/SIMEETINGS/Council/Lisbon-June01/LisboCoun-e.html

Related Topics:
Permanent Conference of Political Parties of Latin America and the Caribbean - Latin American Human Rights Association - Socialist International

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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 of international prestige like Foreign Affairs.

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Berrios is widely admired by many people in Puerto Rico, including those who don't follow his ideology. Proof of this is that he ran for Senator in 1984 and received 84% of the general vote.

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Civil disobedience

In 1971, Berrios led Navy-Culebra protests against the United States Navy's use of the island of Culebra, Puerto Rico. He squatted in the Flamenco beach for 3 days, until he was arrested and imprisoned for three months in jail. As a consequence of his imprisonment, he was expulsed from his professorship in the University of Puerto Rico School of Law.

Related Topics:
Navy-Culebra protests - United States Navy - Culebra, Puerto Rico - Squat

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In part because of the efforts of Berrios and others, the U.S. Navy abandoned its facilities in Culebra.

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In May 8, 1999 Berrios 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 days in an uninterrupted manner; even when the encampment was devastated by storms, and when his health was seriously affected after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. For more than six months, his home was a camping tent; later substitued for a small wood structure.

Related Topics:
May 8 - 1999 - Camping - Vieques, Puerto Rico - Navy-Vieques protests - Gilberto Concepción de Gracia - Prostate cancer

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On December of 1999, he resigned to his Senate seat, because of the uncertained prolongation of his stay in the encampment.

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In May 4, 2000 the encampments were evacuated by federal marshalls and United States Marines; Berrios' arrest was televised nationally in Puerto Rico. The United States marshall that conducted the arrest offered a handshake to Berrios when he presented himself. Berrios stayed in shock for a few seconds. Looking at the marshall'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.

Related Topics:
May 4 - 2000 - Federal marshalls - United States Marines - Handshake

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Five days later, Berrios reentered the target practice grounds, but this time he was judged by the federal tribune and sentenced to four hours of detention. Similarly to what he did in Culebra 30 years before, Berrios didn't 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.

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With the continuation of bombing practices by the U.S. Navy, Berrios announced his intention to enter to the restricted grounds for a third time. He stayed for 5 days in the target practice area, before being arrested with the other PIP members that accompanied him. This time, convicted for the third time by an American tribune, Berrios was sentenced to four months in prison and set free on August 30, 2001; after the imposed sentence came to its own end.

Related Topics:
August 30 - 2001

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In part because of the efforts of Berrios and many others, the U.S. Navy abandoned its facilities in Vieques on May 1, 2003.

Related Topics:
May 1 - 2003

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Former professions or positions held

• Canditate for Governor of Puerto Rico (1972, 1976, 1980, 1988, 2000, 2004) - has never won
• Civil disobedient for the Navy-Culebra protests (1971) and the Cause of Vieques (1999)
• Lawyer
• Political party President for the Puerto Rican Independence Party
• Professor of Law at the University of Puerto Rico (1967 - 1971)
• Senator of Puerto Rico (1972-1976, 1984-1988, 1993-1996)