HUMBOLDT PARK — Carrie Giese-Vazquez and her family unveiled two honorary street signs in Humboldt Park last week, honoring Rafael Cruz and Julio Osorio, two Puerto Rican men who were fatally shot by police in 1977. The street signs, Rafael Cruz Way and Julio Osorio Way, are located at California and Evergreen avenues, across from the neighborhood park.

A Painful History

The shooting of Cruz and Osorio sparked the Division Street Riots and the beginning of the neighborhood’s annual Puerto Rican parade, which marked its 48th display this weekend. Giese-Vazquez, who was barely 1 year old when her father was killed, said having his legacy imprinted in his neighborhood is a beautiful occasion for her family.

The street signs were championed by Ald. Jessie Fuentes (26th), who introduced an honorary designation for both men earlier this year. Fuentes said the signs are a reminder of the painful history of 1977 while also honoring the Puerto Rican legacy in the neighborhood and efforts to stand up to police brutality.

A Legacy of Activism

The shooting happened in Humboldt Park’s namesake park after a night of celebration and after the Puerto Rican parade had taken place Downtown. According to news reports from 1977, Chicago police said Osorio, 26, had a gun and had fired at two officers, missing the police but fatally wounding Cruz, 25. However, no gun was ever found, and it was a black hairbrush that Osorio held in his hand, community and family members said.

José Lopez, Puerto Rican historian and executive director of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, said seeing the honorary street signs’ debut was an emotional moment, as he remembers watching the Cruz and Osorio families grow up. Lopez emphasized the importance of setting the record straight about the shooting and reflecting on the history, especially as police brutality against Black and Brown men persists.

Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.