FLOC celebrates the release of Oscar Lopez Rivera

(español abajo)

After serving 35 years in prison, Oscar Lopez Rivera has been transferred home to Puerto Rico where he will be released after finishing the last three months of his sentence. Join us in celebrating his long-awaited freedom!

As a leader of the Armed Forces of National Liberation (FALN), Lopez Rivera fought for Puerto Rican independence. In 1977, he was arrested and charged with seditious conspiracy because of his anticolonial organizing. For decades, human rights groups and activists like Desmond Tutu and Jimmy Carter have called for the release of Lopez Rivera. More recently, FLOC President Velasquez sent a letter to President Obama in January 2017, calling on him to use his executive power to commute his sentence and release him.

“I am joining the voices of my Latino brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico and the US as well as so many concerned persons not only here but globally, asking that you release Oscar Lopez Rivera before your term as President ends. Mr. Rivera has certainly served his time; and there is no societal benefit for his continued incarceration. In fact, persons of good will around the world would welcome his release as a humanitarian act so indicative of who you are as a person and as a President.”

 

 

FLOC celebra la libertad de Oscar López Rivera

Después de servir 35 años de su sentencia de prisión, Oscar López Rivera ha sido traslado a su hogar, Puerto Rico, donde va a ser liberado después de terminar los últimos tres meses de su sentencia. Únanse con nosotrxs en celebración de una larga espera para ser liberado!

Como líder de las Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional (FALN), fue detenido y convicto por conspiración sediciosa debido a su organización anticolonial. Por décadas, grupos y activistas de derechos humanos como Desmund Tutu y Jimmy Carter han exigido su liberación. Recientemente, Presidente Velásquez escribió al presidente Obama en enero de 2017, solicitándole que use su poder ejecutivo para conmutar la sentencia y liberar a Lopez Rivera.

“Me estoy uniendo a las llamadas de mis hermanxs latinxs en Puerto Rico y los Estados Unidos, así como tantas personas interesadas no solo aquí sino en todo el mundo, pidiéndole la liberación de Oscar Lopez Rivera antes de que se termine su mandato como presidente. Sin duda, señor Rivera ha cumplido su condena. De hecho, personas de buena voluntad de todo el mundo agradecerían su liberación como un acto humanitario tan indicativo de quien eres como persona y como presidente.”