The Delaware Valley’s Most Influential Latinos Foundation will honor the 2011 Delaware Valley’s 50 Most Influential Latinos on Thursday, November 29th, from 5:30-10 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Philadelphia. We are pleased that Joanna Otero-Cruz, El Concilio's Executive Director will be among those honored.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 26, 2013
Statement from Concilio Executive Director Joanna Otero-Cruz on North Philadelphia police assault

Message from our Executive Director, Joanna Otero-Cruz:

While Concilio respects the police department and the judicial process, we are very disappointed that ex-police Lt. Jonathan Josey was found not guilty after he swung and knocked down Aida Guzman at a community street party last September. My concern is the message this verdict sends. Is the court saying because the assault involved a police officer there should be no punishment? If my child were to commit an act such as this, there would be consequences.

Concilio was founded 50 years ago in part to protest police brutality. Thankfully, we have come a long way in that regard since then, and the police are now our partners in building a stronger community. The ruling in this case does not reflect that progress and represents an affront to the good men and women of the police department.

en español

Mensaje de nuestra directora ejecutiva, Joanna Otero-Cruz:

Mientras El Concilio respeta el Departamento de Policía y el proceso judicial nosotros estamos decepcionados que el Lt. Jonathan Josey fue encontrado NO culpable después que le pegó golpe yagredio a la señora Guzmán durante una fiesta en la calle de la cinco y Lehigh, el pasado Septiembre. Mi preocupación es el mensaje que este juicio envía a nuestra communidad. ¿Quiere decir el tribunal que porque el asalto implicó a un policía no debe de haber un castigo? Si mi niño hubiese sido el que hubiera cometido un acto como este, si habrían consecuencias.

Concilio fue fundado hace 50 años en parte por causa de violencia policial. Agradecidamente, hemos progresado en esa consideración desde entonces, y la policía ha estado colaborando con nosotros en construir una comunidad más fuerte. La resolución en este caso no refleja ese progreso y representa un insulto a los buenos hombres y mujeres de la policía.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 1, 2012
Statement from Concilio Executive Director Joanna Otero-Cruz on North Philadelphia police assault

While thousands of people celebrated at Concilio’s Puerto Rican Day Parade on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, an unexplainable incident was taking place an activity in North Philadelphia.

While we have no knowledge of what led to the incident, it is clear from the video that a police officer unnecessarily and brutally struck a woman in the face.

One of the reasons for Concilio’s founding 50 years ago was to combat police brutality such as the assault shown in this video. Even as we celebrate the tremendous advancements of Philadelphia’s Hispanic community over the decades, we cannot overlook this episode.  We call on the Philadelphia Police Department to fully investigate and take appropriate action.

We thank the thousands of citizens who came out and celebrated Puerto Rican heritage at our very special event on the Parkway, but we cannot fully celebrate until incidents such as this assault in North Philadelphia never happen again.