Hunter Voices
Activist and Professor Luis Barrios Arrested
Damaly Gonzalez
Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: Opinion
Father Luis Barrios, a professor from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and Chair of the Latin American Studies Department, has recently been incarcerated for protesting against the School of the Americas. SOA graduates are responsible for some of the worst human rights cases in Latin America.
Here is what Hunter students had to say:
Edwin Echevarria, Junior, Psychology
"This is bullshit. People need to understand that we all need each other in this world. Without the next man or woman to help us in any small way possible, the world would not be able to exist. Every time someone speaks out to bring people together, the government always has the tendency to shut them out. Karma bites really hard and this story hopefully will be heard by everyone in CUNY and the world. He is just like many others who are in prison for fighting for what they believe in."
Mary Paz, Graduate, English
"Working at the Center for Puerto Rican Studies, I have heard a lot about Luis Barrios' situation. His treatment while at prison has been unjust and unnecessarily cruel. The work he is taking on in this fight should not merit solitary confinement. I wish a larger part of the CUNY system would show him the support he needs. I hope he is able to come out of this as a stronger person and bring more light to this situation."
Yousif Saroya, Junior, Classical Archeology
"A person should not be condemned for expressing their opinion. What happened to freedom of speech? I personally think his punishment has been taken overboard."
Here is what Hunter students had to say:
Edwin Echevarria, Junior, Psychology
"This is bullshit. People need to understand that we all need each other in this world. Without the next man or woman to help us in any small way possible, the world would not be able to exist. Every time someone speaks out to bring people together, the government always has the tendency to shut them out. Karma bites really hard and this story hopefully will be heard by everyone in CUNY and the world. He is just like many others who are in prison for fighting for what they believe in."
Mary Paz, Graduate, English
"Working at the Center for Puerto Rican Studies, I have heard a lot about Luis Barrios' situation. His treatment while at prison has been unjust and unnecessarily cruel. The work he is taking on in this fight should not merit solitary confinement. I wish a larger part of the CUNY system would show him the support he needs. I hope he is able to come out of this as a stronger person and bring more light to this situation."
Yousif Saroya, Junior, Classical Archeology
"A person should not be condemned for expressing their opinion. What happened to freedom of speech? I personally think his punishment has been taken overboard."
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