Oscar López-Rivera

Oscar López-Rivera was born in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico on January 6, 1943. His family moved to Chicago when he was twelve years old. In later years he beacame a respected community activist and one of the founding members of the Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School (formerly Rafael Cancel Miranda High School) and the Juan Antonio Corretjer Puerto Rican Cultural Center.

Oscar was very active in many community struggles in Chicago and a Puerto Rican independence leader. Arrested in 1981, he was charged with seditious conspiracy and various other charges. 'Described' as a leader of the Armed Forces of National Liberation (Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional-FALN). Oscar was eventually convicted on the charge of seditious conspiracy, armed robbery and some lesser offenses.

Seditious conspiracy can be defined as overt conduct towards an established order. In this case the established order being the U.S. The conduct can be either written, via speech or organizational. The act in this case was of attempting to overthrow the U.S. government from Puerto Rico, which the U.S. invaded in 1898.

For the charge of seditious conspiracy, armed robbery and some lesser offenses, Oscar was given a sentence of 55 years. A sentence that is out of proportion when compared to other crimes committed during the same time period. Some of the conditions under which he has spent his prison term were found to be in violation of the U.N. Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. (ref.)

The National Boricua Human Rights Network's (NBHRN) new campaign to ask for parole for Oscar Lopez Rivera is well under way, ProLibertad has started an online petition to get President Barack Obama to give Oscar parole or to commute his sentence.

In the words of Congressman Vito Marcantonio, U.S. Congressman, in a speech given by him on August 5, 1939 before Congress titled 'Five Years of Tyranny.' (Recorded in the Congressional Record, August 14, 1939)  "There is no place in America for political prisoners...When we ask ourselves, 'Can it happen here?' the Puerto Rican people can answer, 'It has happened in Puerto Rico.' as he spoke about the treatment of Puerto Rican Nationalist and U.S. prisoner Pedro Albizu Campos.

Click on the image above to sign the petition

Some thoughts after taking a break....

To take a break is so refreshing....

On the Mosque Nonsense
Some time ago, I wrote about the fear of a Latino U.S.A. Some may laugh and merely consider it preposterous. The obvious truth is that when you add fuel to the fire, you're not looking for a solution but rather making it worse. Clarity? Well, take a listen to the current arguments over the proposed mosque near "Ground Zero." The rhetoric surrounding this proposal, which is fueled by some of our elected officials, is hateful nonsense. This hateful nonsense, the same nonsense which is displayed when debating immigration, is taken by some as a sign that it is acceptable to hate.

The notion that all Muslims must be terrorist is like saying that all Latinos must be immigrants. There is no crime in being a Muslim and being able to freely practice Islam...so too a mosque near "Ground Zero"....

On the Violence against P.R. Women
Yes, none are immune from the violence against women. Unfortunately, for Puerto Rican women living in Puerto Rico there seems to be no escape from the violence. Puerto Rico suffers one of the world's worst rates and it's government seems to consider this to not be important enough to maintain funding for.

The Office of the Women's Advocate, which was formed in 2001, is another weak spot within the goverment. No matter how dire the economic situation, there are some things that need all the funding possible and this is one. Another 'shame on you' for that FARTuño administration.

And on Lolita
The passing of Lolita Lebrón brings about thoughts of a courageous life. A life full of strength, one that need be admired and remembered. I recently read an article in which a statement read (in reference to the 1954 attack in Congress), " she set us back" ... I guess from a pro-statehood point of view that would be the case. I prefer to look at it as an act of courage and love for country. Not to condone the act itself or any act of violence as a means to obtaining or making ones point but rather the courage behind the act. To understand her actions, one needs to truly understand the U.S.-Puerto Rico relationship and what was occurring at the time. Also understand, if you are in a position where someone strikes then standing up and striking back as a means of self defense is acceptable. Lolita would later renounce violence herself but her courage was undying.

What strikes me is the lack of media coverage in Puerto Rico on Lolita's death. The quietness about it is equivalent to labeling her life as a negative. The underlying truth is that many feel shame...but what they don't realize is that if they are ashamed of the courageous life of Lolita Lebrón then they are ashamed of being Puerto Ricans.

RIP Lolita Lebrón

Life has a way of taking one places based on their actions. For Lolita Lebrón, born and raised in Lares, Puerto Rico, her actions would take her to the United States House of Representatives on March 1, 1954. That day, 56 years ago, stamped Lolita and her compatriots as heroes of the Puerto Rican Nationalist movement.
Serving 25 years of a 70 year sentence before being pardoned in 1979 by then President Jimmy Carter. She remained steadfast in her nationalistic views. It was one her compatriots, Don Rafael Cancel Miranda, who said it perfectly, “When you are real, there is no power in the world that can make you change, or bow your heads.” This is exactly the way she lived her life.




Dolores "Lolita" Lebrón Sotomayor (November 19, 1919 – August 1, 2010)

Another quote that exemplifies her life is that of Don Pedro Albizu Campos, "La Patria es valor y sacrificio." To those who cherish all that is Puerto Rico, she will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Lolita Lebrón.

• "There is no victory without pain"


• "I am not sorry for fighting for the freedom of my country"


• "Yo no vine a matar, yo vine a morir."