VTMBH Article: Body
With prayers, songs, voices of protest and musica de palo, Upper Manhattan's Dominican community gave homage yesterday to Santiago "Chago" Villanueva, 35, who died last week after being handcuffed by four Bloomfield police officers while he suffered an epileptic seizure. Community leader Ydannis Rodriguez demanded that the New Jersey authorities immediately deliver Villanueva's body, along with the investigation results.
This Thursday, at 5:30 in the afternoon, we are going to return to Bloomfield to continue protesting, so that justice will be done. We are asking that they immediately suspend the four police officers until the investigations are finished. We urge leaders, politicians and community members to unite in this fight against police brutality, Rodriguez said.
According to community activist Nina Paulino, Villanueva was working at the clothing factory Quick Cut, making $7.50 an hour to support his children Esmaily, 9, and Jeudi, 13, who live in the Dominican Republic. It was there that he had an epileptic attack and his supervisor called an ambulance, said Paulino. Four police officers arrived instead of the emergency team. Even though they were told that Villanueva was sick, the officers began to abuse him physically and verbally, thinking that the Dominican musician had taken drugs. After handcuffing him and pushing on his chest until his breathing stopped, the officers gave him artificial respiration. Now the Bloomfield police are calling this heroic.
The activist also revealed that Villanueva died of mechanical asphyxia. She asked his family members not to take his body until the authorities report on the cause of his death. Chago did not die of epilepsy, he died of asphyxiation. Heroes save lives, they don't take lives. We are not going to allow this to continue happening. We need to unite so that these actions against minorities don't repeat themselves, said Paulino. Afro-Caribbean musical groups Palo Mayor, 21 Divisiones and Palo Monte gave rhythm to the cries of protest that called for justice for Villanueva.
The Dominican father died just three weeks after gaining his green card, which he needed in order to accomplish one of his dreams: to return to his homeland and be reunited with his children. [Green cards are necessary for non-citizens to re-enter the country.]
I will go to the most beautiful land, to drink the water that gives life, sang those gathered in prayer, while Villanueva smiled down from an altar set up on the sidewalk, as though he were grateful to see the Quisqueyano peoples outpouring of solidarity.
This Thursday, at 5:30 in the afternoon, we are going to return to Bloomfield to continue protesting, so that justice will be done. We are asking that they immediately suspend the four police officers until the investigations are finished. We urge leaders, politicians and community members to unite in this fight against police brutality, Rodriguez said.
According to community activist Nina Paulino, Villanueva was working at the clothing factory Quick Cut, making $7.50 an hour to support his children Esmaily, 9, and Jeudi, 13, who live in the Dominican Republic. It was there that he had an epileptic attack and his supervisor called an ambulance, said Paulino. Four police officers arrived instead of the emergency team. Even though they were told that Villanueva was sick, the officers began to abuse him physically and verbally, thinking that the Dominican musician had taken drugs. After handcuffing him and pushing on his chest until his breathing stopped, the officers gave him artificial respiration. Now the Bloomfield police are calling this heroic.
The activist also revealed that Villanueva died of mechanical asphyxia. She asked his family members not to take his body until the authorities report on the cause of his death. Chago did not die of epilepsy, he died of asphyxiation. Heroes save lives, they don't take lives. We are not going to allow this to continue happening. We need to unite so that these actions against minorities don't repeat themselves, said Paulino. Afro-Caribbean musical groups Palo Mayor, 21 Divisiones and Palo Monte gave rhythm to the cries of protest that called for justice for Villanueva.
The Dominican father died just three weeks after gaining his green card, which he needed in order to accomplish one of his dreams: to return to his homeland and be reunited with his children. [Green cards are necessary for non-citizens to re-enter the country.]
I will go to the most beautiful land, to drink the water that gives life, sang those gathered in prayer, while Villanueva smiled down from an altar set up on the sidewalk, as though he were grateful to see the Quisqueyano peoples outpouring of solidarity.