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October 20, 2011

Author Piri Thomas Dies at 83 
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The author Piri Thomas has died at the age of 83. Born to Puerto
Rican-Cuban parents in New York City's Spanish Harlem, Thomas'
best-selling 1967 memoir, "Down These Mean Streets," is a considered a
classic chronicle of life in inner-city America. His other books
include, "Seven Long Times" and S"tories From El Barrio." Thomas spent
many years in prison and was a vocal critic of the U.S. penal system. In
a 1996 appearance on Democracy Now!, Thomas discussed the fate of Puerto
Rican political prisoners in the United States.

Piri Thomas: "These men and women have not committed any heinous crimes.
They fought for respect, for independence of their island. Every country
has a right to their own self-determination. Murderers in this country
have been let out of prison and these people who are teachers and
intellectuals have been held 25 years, sentenced to 70 years. Who hears
of things like this? We are saying to the government, we are not an
invisible people. We are a people that are united. Affirming we have a
right, as another human being, to be seen, not to be put into a corner
and forgotten."



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