You should know that although the Hispanic elected officials in New York have shamefully turned their backs on, and chose to ignore the unjust plight of José Alba, Mr. Francisco Marte came to his rescue and to his defense arriving as "El Cid Campeador".
It is important for you to know that on Friday, July 1, Jose Alba was arrested, and charged with second-degree murder and sent to Rikers Island on a half-million-dollar bond, $500,000.00.
According to news reports, José Alba, 61 years old, was minding his own business, peacefully working in an upper Manhattan bodega. He works daily to support himself and his family. While at his job in the bodega, a 33-year-old man, named Austin Simon, pushed his way into the bodega and violently began to attack Mr. Alba, fearful of losing his life, took out a blade and fatally stabbed the assailant, Austin Simon.
You should know that this attack was captured on security videos. All the videos and comments clearly show the brutal way the assailant attacked Mr. Alba. CCTV videos clearly show that Mr. Alba acted in self-defense because he feared for his own life.
This evidence and videos tell the story and are self-explanatory. Unfortunately, the visual evidence did not suffice for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose policies have shown that he is an advocate, and defender of the criminal element, and not the victims. District Attorney Bragg unjustly arrested Mr. José Alba, a Dominican national, and set bail at five hundred thousand dollars, $500,000.00. Mr. Alba being of humble means, even the blind can see that he could never come up with that amount of money to get out of prison on bail.
It is public knowledge that, D.A. Braggs soft on crime policies, since he was sworn in as Manhattan’s prosecutor, there has been an outcry to Governor Kathy Hochul to remove him as our District Attorney. However, The Governor has refused to remove Braggs and she has practically endorsed the anti-police, and Pro-Criminal positions of prosecutor Alvin Bragg.
Leaders such as City Mayor Eric Adams, the News Media, (7) seven White members of the City Council have come out in defense of Mr. Alba, and hope that other Hispanic elected leaders, especially those that represent the Dominican Community, would join the outcry to free Mr. Alba. Unfortunately, not one of the Hispanic politicians have joined the clamor in favor of Justice for José Alba leaving him practically alone to rot in Rikers Island.
However, Thanks, to Mr. Francisco Marte, President of the Association of Bodegueros of New York who as “El Cid Campeador", appeared in court securing a lawyer for Mr. Alba and managed to reduce the bail bond to $ 50,000.00 dollars.
Francisco Marte, recognized that even the $ 50,000.00 dollars bond was also impossible for José Alba and his relatives to raise. Mr. Marte generously put up the bail money from his own pocket, without personally knowing Mr. Alba. Francisco Marte also recognized that what is being done to Jose Alba is unjust.
What Braggs has done to this hardworking, Hispanic, Dominican, humble man, who only wanted to defend his own life, had him arrested, charged with murder, held in prison, and assigned a high bail to ensure he stayed locked up, is clearly a miscarriage of justice. But thanks to Francisco Marte, who recognized the injustice being perpetrated on Mr. Alba, at least for now, he is back with his family. We need more Francisco Martes in our community and fewer cowardly elected leaders.
To All Hispanic Elected Leaders and to those who still choose to support Alvin Bragg and his “WOKE” policies, you should know that this is the time to come out from hiding in your cave and stand up to Governor Kathy Hochul and Alvin Bragg and their stand in defense and protection of criminals, while neglecting to protect the victims of crime in our city and state.
I Am the Reverend Ruben Diaz, and This Is What You Should Know.
