NYDailyNews

Hil Pays Jailhouse Visit To Vieques Four

By SCOTT SHIFREL and MAKI BECKER Daily News Staff Writers

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton paid a jailhouse visit last night to the Rev. Al Sharpton, who is serving a 90-day sentence for protesting Navy bombing exercises on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques.

With Secret Service agents in tow, Clinton (D-N.Y.) met the activist minister in a public area of the Brooklyn federal jail and gave him a big hug, said Sharpton attorney Sanford Rubenstein.

"I was concerned about you," Clinton told Sharpton.

"I really appreciate you coming here," Sharpton replied. He went on to tell Clinton that he was touched that a senator had taken interest in his cause and well-being, Rubenstein said.

Clinton's meeting with Sharpton and three jailed Bronx politicians lasted about 90 minutes. A Clinton spokesman declined to discuss details of the gathering, but said the senator supports "a permanent and immediate end" to all Navy exercises on Vieques.

Last week, Sharpton, City Councilman Adolfo Carrion (D-Bronx), Assemblyman Jose Rivera (D-Bronx) and Bronx Democratic Party chairman Roberto Ramirez were jailed for their role in the May 1 protest.

They're getting wistful for a nice home-cooked meal, but their spirits are lifted knowing they have supporters just outside the walls of the Brooklyn federal lockup, backers said.

"They do hear us," Rep. Jose Serrano (D-Bronx) told a crowd of 100 outside the lockup.

"They told us it's beautiful to see people from all parts of the community here," Serrano said.

Carrion, Rivera and Ramirez were sentenced to serve 40 days, while Sharpton got 90 days, because he is a repeat offender.

Their legal team filed a motion with the 1st Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Boston on Friday asking for a stay of the sentence or at least bail, said lawyer Flora Edwards. The legal team is hoping for word from the court by tomorrow.

In the meantime, the four pass the time reading newspaper accounts of their travails, watching the news and visiting with their families, lawyers and politicians.

"Yeah, he wants to get out of there," said Kathy Sharpton, who visited her husband yesterday. "I mean, come on. ... He misses my cooking."

Original Publication Date: 5/28/01

-- Anonymous, May 28, 2001