“These four activists have work to do in the community and they pose no danger to society,” Serrano said. “To deny them bail is just another example of the bizarre behavior on the part of authorities that we have witnessed throughout this ordeal.” 
   
On May 23, in Federal Court in San Juan, Judge José A. Fuste sentenced New York City Councilman Adolfo Carrión, Bronx Democratic Party Chairman Roberto Ramirez, New York
State Assemblyman José Rivera, and Rev. Al Sharpton for protesting the Navy’s presence on Vieques. Fuste sentenced Sharpton to 90 days in prison and fined him $500. Carrión, Ramirez, and Rivera were sentenced to 40 days in prison and each was also fined $500. Currently, they are at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. The appeal of their convictions to the U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit, in Boston, will be heard Tuesday.

“There is no chance that they would go anywhere if they were released on bail,” Serrano said. “Mr. Carrión is running for Bronx Borough President and is a member of the city council. Mr. Rivera is a member of the New York State Assembly and Mr. Ramirez is an attorney heading the mayoral campaign of Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer and other campaigns. And Mr. Sharpton is involved in many activities locally.”

In view of the suddenness of the trials and the severity of the sentences Serrano has written President George W. Bush urging him to grant the demonstrators relief from their penalties. Serrano also plans to participate in a gathering organized by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on June 5 on Capitol Hill, which will bring people together to discuss the inadequate treatment of Vieques protesters.

“Let us not forget that our four colleagues received the harshest and most inhumane treatment,” Serrano said. “In a matter of hours, these men were brought before a federal judge in Puerto Rico, tried, convicted, sentenced, and jailed at the federal facility in Guaynabo. Let us continue to support them and press for their release.”

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