Wash Heights Street Will Be Co-Named After Dominican-American Advocate

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — A street corner in Washington Heights will be co-named after a man who was born on a ranch in the Dominican Republic, before immigrating to the United States and working as a political and union advocate.

The corner of West 157th Street and Broadway will be co-named after Juan M. Diaz on Saturday, in a ceremony led by Council Member Shaun Abreu.

The ceremony will take place Saturday at 11 a.m., and be attended by Elias Corporan, the public relations officers for the Dominican Consulate, and members of Diaz's family.

Diaz was born in 1903 in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic, in a cattle ranch owned by his parents.

He came to New York City in 1923 as a 19-year-old, after serving as an English interpreter for U.S. troops during the United State's occupation of the Dominican Republic.

Diaz got a job working within the New York Subway Transit System, and began to get involved with galvanizing domestic and international support agains the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic.

He did this in part by co-publishing an anti-Trujillo newspaper called "Patria."

He worked within the transit system for more than 30 years, during which time he took an active role in the union and as a civic leader.

Diaz went on to serve as the president of the U.S. chapter of the Partido Revolucionario Dominicano, and was "instrumental" in securing political support for the Dominican Republic from U.S. Congress members.

Diaz died in New York City at the age of 99 in 2002.

He is survived by his now 96-year-old son, John, his daughters Kay, Melba, and Clarissa, along with two grandchildren, and multiple great and great-great grandchildren.

"Council Member Abreu will commemorate Juan Diaz for his tireless fight for democracy, freedom, and peace," reads the council member's news release.