Interview" The Counter " of" La Vanguardia " 12/13/2010
Does your life before the 11-S? I left
Puerto Rico in search of an opportunity in the U.S. as an illusionist, but when I realized I had too many magicians and just
sweeper in the Twin Towers.
were twenty years.
The first ten cleaned the office of Governor Mario Cuomo.
Were you happy?
I loved the dance and women, helping others is not me going through my head. Was responsible for cleaning stairs throughout the North Tower (110 floors). That morning, Sept. 11, arrived half an hour late and that saved me because I was having breakfast in the cafeteria, upstairs, with my friends.
Life is arbitrary.
was in the basement, a ground explosion lifted us, the roof caved in and started to get wet. I saw a man screaming come with outstretched hands that hung the bloody thing:
skin was torn from the armpits to the toes.
Save details, please.
Nobody wanted to touch for fear of AIDS, wrapped in towels. Pam!, another explosion. In the office had fourteen people hysterical.
took the lead.
Yes, I drove out of the building and then I looked up and saw the hole, fire and smoke. "My friends at the restaurant!" I cried, I took a police radio and went into the South Tower, which was the office of emergency.
Empty? Yes
started taking people: a girl who would not leave for fear of being fired; two men trapped in an elevator, but the 103 lifts were many more: his screams still wake me up.
got out, what came back?
several times. I was one of five master keys of the building, the rest of the experts had to evacuate the building, but it was the first run.
You opened the emergency exits.
Yes, for firefighters to evacuate people, very badly injured, filled with crystals; communications did not work, only two frequencies for all firefighters, so many died, never received the order to leave the building.
followed up.
33 On the floor I found a woman paralyzed that I could save, I came: at 39 I met a paraplegic and a policeman asked me to take it out.
Why order out?
When you get out, the South Tower had already fallen, there was dust everywhere. "Do not look back and run!" She screamed the police.
And he looked, of course.
Yes, and I saw the mountain of people who jumped from the windows, mass of flesh and shreds of cloth. I recognized the lady of the floor 33 split in half and began to mourn. The building was shaking, I dove under a fire truck just before it collapsed and was stranded for four hours.
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| William shows the master key that used to save from death to many people |
I rescued unharmed. Just after the truck tire exploded. Then I found a microphone in his face. My story went around the world, week in central assistance to victims, Hispanics asked me to translate it. So many that I decided to organize them, and thus created the first group of survivors of 11-S. What I learned cleaning up the governor's office was very helpful.
Why did it?
was my answer to the question of why I survived and not them, all my friends. I was the image of the Red Cross ads to raise money for the 2,274 immigrants who were not counted, you know, waiters, cleaners, cooks.
What did you receive?
Nothing, and I spent all my savings going to Washington to fight for the victims because that was what kept me out of trouble. So just press conferences, I took off my tie and went to live under a bridge.
A national hero under a bridge?
Until someone called the BBC and set up the scandal. Since then, I created my own organization. The conference is money for the victims, but 20% that I will to live.
What did you learn?
That face of difficulties you keep your vision of what is right, that human compassion is more lasting than violence, to help other heals you. If I had been locked in my pain, now be receiving psychological help.
What do you say to young people?
That motivation, willingness and enthusiasm have made a sweeper change the lives of many people, why can not they do well prepared!
He was offered a council .
Yes, but I wanted to be an activist. He had seen the stew of crap that was cooked in the governor's office.
What has been the great lesson?
Be aware that living on borrowed time. If I am just at peace, I did the right thing and I'm ready for whatever comes, nothing surprises me.
Whence came so much empathy?
of desperation. He who washed dishes like the manager died, but a family gave three million dollars in compensation to the family of a dishwasher, $ 100,000. It was not fair.
Living to Tell
Before the building fall on him, personally saved fifteen people and worked with firefighters to evacuate hundreds trapped in the Twin Towers. He got some of the funds of 11-S out to the Latino community and raised more than $ 120 million for immigrant victims, poor, uninsured or unemployed, although he, national hero, was living under a bridge. Hollywood offered him a film of his life (¿... A white guy who had pulled out of the street, but selling my soul.) He has narrated his story in the Second Congress of Youth 'What really matters', organized by Solidarity Projects also in Barcelona.
If you want to hear and see Guillermo Rodriguez to tell their own experiences in the mismo11 S and its road then as an advocate for Hispanic victims, I invite you to watch this video:
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