By Alicia Cruz
The Black Urban Times
The debate over parade organizers decision to ask Puerto Rican and Armenian actor Osvaldo Rios, a man with a history of domestic violence, to march in the 2010 Puerto Rican Day Parade ceremony as Padrino Internacional is heating up once again.
The decision has some threatening to boycott the parade, while one invited guest has dropped out in protest of Rios acting as el Padrino or international godfather of the parade. Representative Luis Gutierrez of Illinois, who was named the states marshal for the parade, sent a letter to the organizers on Friday, declining their parade invite and designation saying, "I do not believe that honoring an individual who has committed such a serious crime is in keeping with the spirit of our parade or the principles of our community,'' Gutierrez said. "I believe we must send a message of zero tolerance for violence against women.''
1010wins.com has reported that parade organizers did not return their call seeking comment on Tuesday but did say they believe the actor has paid for his actions.
The telenovela star released a letter, written in Spanish, last month to media outlets acknowledging his past and said that he had assumed responsibility for his actions.
"These mistakes undeniably belong to my life," said Rios. "I acknowledge that they will accompany me forever. They are part of my personal history, of my evolution as a man, and of my constant walk in this material level which we call life."
The 49-year-old actor, even asked for forgiveness saying, "today I do it again with humbleness and absolute responsibility."
Several New York City councilwomen denounced organizers choice and have hinted at the chance of a boycott unless Rios' designation was withdrawn. Melissa Mark-Viverito, Annabel Palma, Rosie Mendez, Julissa Ferreras, Maria del Carmen Arroyo and Diana Reyna and state Assemblywoman Carmen Arroyo all released a statement saying, "Domestic violence is a destructive cycle. Lives are destroyed and futures are damaged by this horrendous crime. We simply cannot remain silent on this issue."
Yearly parade goers voiced their opinions about Rios standing as Padrino, but not all were against his participation in the parade. Click HERE to read their statements.
Rep. Nydia Velazquez and Mayor Michael Bloomberg have also been tapped to march in the parade. So far, neither has stepped down.
Mayor Bloomberg's spokesman, Stu Loeser told media outlets that "While the mayor doesn't always agree with the organizers of parades he marches in, he will attend this year's parade in honor of the Puerto Rican community."
Ríos starred as "Don Alejandro de la Vega" in the Colombian telenovela: "Zorro: La Espada y la Rosa" as well as "Santiago" in Telemundo telenovela "El Juramento."
The singing heartthrob, who once dated Colombian siren Shakira, has been married three times and has two sons. A 2004 article in the Puerto Rican Herald stated that Rios was sentenced to three months in jail for beating former girlfriend Daisy Annette Santiago in 1996 at the couple's home in Isla Verde (Carolina), Puerto Rico. Ríos was arrested in Miami while he was recording the soap opera "Angel Rebelde."
What say you, readers? Should Rios be banished from the parade lineup because of his history or do you think he's paid his debt to society and should be allowed to represent his fellow Boricuas during the parade?
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