31 Days for 31 Years: Free Oscar López Rivera!

I am heartened to see such creativity and solidarity - youth and elders, Mexican and Muslim, students and organizers, poets and relatives - joining together to support and raise awareness about Puerto Rican US Political Prisoner Oscar López Rivera.  Thank you to all the organizers and participants for all their work and energy in creating this.  If you're in Chicago, go witness and be a part of this!  Please see the press release from the project and some of the short videos documenting it below:
  
“31 DAYS FOR 31 YEARS”
A Multimedia and Interactive Exhibit for the Release of Oscar López Rivera

The National Boricua Human Rights Network (NBHRN), Batey Urbano and Latin@ Coalition have commenced “31 Days for 31 Years” in which 31 activists and community residents will spend 24 hours each in a makeshift storefront cell with guard, for a total of 31 days. The exhibit, starting April 29th, also features an exhibition of Oscar’s artwork (he is a prolific painter) as well as literature and posters from the campaign to free Puerto Rican political prisoners for the past 30 years and a wall of Oscar’s letters to his supporters as well as a station where people may write to Oscar, in the Batey Urbano, located at 2620 West Division St. Chicago, IL 60622. Batey Urbano is in the heart of “Paseo Boricua” in Chicago’s Humboldt Park Neighborhood.

The purpose of this is to call attention to the continued unjust incarceration of Oscar López Rivera. The ambitious joint effort of the Latin@ Coalition, Batey Urbano and NBHRN will culminate in a major event commemorating his arrest and 31 years of imprisonment on Tuesday, May 29.

Oscar, a decorated Vietnam veteran, has been imprisoned since his arrest on May 29, 1981. Subsequently, he was charged and convicted for seditious conspiracy and minor arms charges and sentenced to 55 years. The other Puerto Rican political prisoners of his generation, arrested in 1980 and 1983 and also convicted of seditious conspiracy, were released in 1999 by President Clinton, due to mass international and domestic pressure. Oscar rejected the offer at that time because 2 others, Carlos Alberto Torres and Haydee Beltrán, were not included. Both of them have since been freed on parole.

Another creative way folks have organized to show Oscar support and educate the people about his incarceration and Puerto Rico's struggle to be free:

Not yet fluent in Spanish?  You can learn more about the mural here.

For more information, please see:

National Boricua Human Rights Network 

Previous Dandelioness Herbals blog posts about Oscar López Rivera, including his artwork:

Freedom for Oscar López Rivera!

The Campaign to Free Oscar López Rivera Continues!

Keep on Calling to Free Oscar López Rivera!

Interested in writing to Oscar López Rivera?  Please see: 

Writing to (Political) Prisoners

Keep on Calling to Free Oscar López Rivera!

Students, senators, family, friends, celebrities, and other community members from the U.S., Puerto Rico, and beyond who support the release of Political Prisoner Oscar López Rivera have been continuing to call in to the US Parole Commission. (To see Oscar’s art, learn more about his contributions to the community, and his case, see my earlier blog posts at Freedom for Oscar López Rivera and The Campaign to Free Oscar López Rivera Continues! or visit the Boricua Human Rights website)

East Coasters (U.S.) - Tuesday is our day! Those calling from the Midwest have been calling on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and the West Coast as been calling Thursdays or Fridays. Please mark your calendars and take a few moments to call into the USPC to call for the end to Oscar’s nearly 30 years of incarceration for his commitment to the liberation of the people and land of Puerto Rico. The USPC may tell you that you must put your comments into writing. You can print out a letter to sign and mail in. I’ve printed out extra letters and have been carrying them with me to work, on errands, and to events that I attend to share with others and mailing in the signed letters. If you can let the Boricua Human Rights Network know the number of letters you’re sending in, it helps them keep track of how many supporters are in touch with the USPC. Also, continue to call! Leave a message with the operator if you can, or leave a message on their voicemail if they put you through or if you call outside of business hours. Your calls, your letters, and your faxes really do count. Asking friends, family members, co-workers, and people in organizations that you’re a part of to sign letters of support for Oscar not only builds a stronger movement calling for his release, it is also a great way to spark conversations about US Political Prisoners, incarceration, and issues affecting communities near and far.

If you’re already familiar with the case, you can call (301) 492-5990 and hit 0 to speak to operator or leave a voicemail. You can simply say “Hello, I’m calling for the release of Oscar López #87651-024 and I live in Vermont [NY, ME, MI, etc.] The Parole Commission should reconsider its order denying him parole, and grant him immediate parole.” For a phone script and for the letter to print out and mail in and/or fax, please click here.

Another way to show some love and raise awareness about Oscar’s (and others’) incarceration is to wear your message. May 29^th marks the 30^th anniversary of Oscar López Rivera's arrest, and to commemorate this a new OLR t-shirt (image above) has been created and is on sale now! The t-shirt is available in med, large, XL, and 2XL. Each shirt costs $20 plus $5 shipping and handling in continental US and Puerto Rico. The designer, Michael Reyes, is Oscar's nephew and a portion of the sale of each t-shirt goes to the campaign to free Oscar.

To order, please mail your check and t-shirt size to:

National Boricua Human Rights Network
2739 W. Division Street
PASEO BORICUA
Chicago, IL 60622

I know I’m sending my check in soon and hope to see others rocking one soon, too! Many thanks for taking the time to support our community members who are locked up for their political belief, community actions, and dedication to freedom.

Please be in touch if you have questions or comments!

The Campaign to Free Oscar López Rivera Continues!

Clockwise from top left. Puerto Rican Political Prisoner Oscar López Rivera, National Boricua Human Rights Network - working tirelessly for Oscar's freedom, the last of Oscar's co-defendents Carols Alberto Torres is Free! July 26, 2010, and youth calling for the release of the remaining Puerto Rican Political Prisoners,

The US Parole Commission has daily received hundreds of calls, along with thousands of faxes and letters in support of US Political Prisoner Oscar López Rivera over the last 3 week period. (Please see the 2/12 Freedom for Oscar López Rivera! post for more info) The National Boricua Human Rights Network is continuing the campaign to win freedom for Puerto Rican political prisoner Oscar López Rivera. On Friday, February 18, the U.S. Parole Commission issued its decision in the case of Puerto Rican political prisoner Oscar López Rivera, stating “Deny parole. Continue to a 15-year reconsideration hearing in January 2026 or continue to expiration, whichever comes first.”

Please continue to call, fax and mail letters to the USPC. THERE ARE NEW VERSIONS OF THE PHONE SCRIPT AND LETTER. Please make sure you use those.

This decision ignores the express will of the Puerto Rican people and those who believe in justice and human rights, counting tens of thousands of voices supporting his immediate release, the Commission ignored the evidence establishing that Oscar met all the criteria for parole, and also ignored its own rules in the process. Among these many ignored voices are members of legislatures including the United States Congress; the state legislatures of New York, Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania; the city councils and county boards of many locales in the U.S. and Puerto Rico; the mayors of many towns in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, including the Association of Mayors of Puerto Rico; bar associations including the Puerto Rico Bar Association, the National Lawyers Guild and the American Association of Jurists; clergy and religious organizations, including the Ecumenical Coalition representing every religious denomination in Puerto Rico; human rights advocates, academics, students, artists, community organizations, and workers.

Oscar and his attorney Jan Susler will meet next week to discuss the decision. Meanwhile, the National Boricua Human Rights Network in the U.S. and the Comité Pro Derechos Humanos in Puerto Rico will continue the campaign to express to the Parole Commission the depth and breadth of support for Oscar’s immediate release.

Oscar, his family, his attorney, National Boricua Human Rights Network in the U.S. and the Comité Pro Derechos Humanos in Puerto Rico want to express our deepest gratitude for the vast support for his release.

Interfaith Prisoners of Conscience Project Denounces US Parole Commission's Decision

The Interfaith Prisoners of Conscience Project denounces the US Parole Commission's decision to deny the parole petition of Puerto Rican political prisoner Oscar López Rivera, a father, grandfather, artist, community organizer, and decorated Viet Nam veteran who has spent nearly 30 years in prison for acts and beliefs in favor of independence for Puerto Rico.

In making this decision, the Parole Commission clearly failed to follow its own guidelines, which stipulate that the petitioner not pose a safety threat and not be likely to commit a future offense.

Past and present supporters of his release include Nobel Laureates such as Desmond Tutu and Rigoberta Menchu; scores of other prominent people, including elected officials, celebrities, and religious leaders and denominations, reflecting the broadest cross-section of the Puerto Rican society. Clearly his supporters would not be working to welcome him home to Puerto Rico if they considered it remotely possible that he posed a danger to themselves or their loved ones.

A whole generation has grown up in the thirty years that Mr. López Rivera has been in prison. Around the world, we see people breathing in the new possibilities of freedom and democracy, while students in one of the few remaining colonies in the Americas are maced and tear-gassed for engaging in peaceful protest at the University of Puerto Rico. Regardless of one's views concerning Puerto Rico's political status, it's past time for people of conscience everywhere to join in this call to pray, meditate, demand, and struggle to bring Oscar home.

Rev. Dr. C. Nozomi Ikuta

Co-Chair, Interfaith Prisoners of Conscience Project.

Freedom for Oscar López Rivera!

Oscar López Rivera and his artwork: clockwise from middle top - Katrina's Dome, Salvador Allende, Border Crossing, Mita with apron, Mita making morcilla

I'm writing today to ask that you take a few moments out of your day (especially since many of y'all in the Northeastern US are snowed in by this amazing storm!) to call the US Parole Commission on behalf of US Political Prisoner Oscar López Rivera. I've been writing to Oscar for many years, about gardens and history and our families' farms. He was offered an opportunity to be released from prison by the Clinton administration, but wouldn't agree to the terms of the release because two of his comrades were not included in the deal. Now three decades have passed since he was first incarcerated, his comrades have all been released, including the two that he denied release because of. Fellow Puerto rican US Political Prisoner Carlos Alberto Torres was released just this past July.

Oscar López Rivera has been in prison nearly as long as I've been alive not because he was convicted of killing or even harming anyone, but because of his political affiliations - his fierce love for his people and his island of Puerto Rico. He was drafted into the Vietnam War, where he received a Bronze Star for bravery, but like many other veterans, he returned to the States after risking his life for the US gov't and found his community devastated by the effects of racism, poverty, and chemical warfare (the US gov't destroying communities by implanting drugs into poor communities/communities of color). Oscar organized within the community to help create the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School, and the Latino Cultural Center at the University of Illinois-Chicago. He advocated for fair housing, bilingual education, and an end to police brutality and racist practices in public utilities, and supported the work of United Farm Workers. And he fought for the independence of Puerto Rico from the US's continued oppressive colonial rule.

Before and since his incarceration he's been dedicated to justice, and it's far time he be released! His daughter, who I met years ago, and grandchild, other family members, comrades, friends, politicians, celebrities, and other community-minded lovers of justice await the end of his incarceration, to have him home again. And I'm looking forward to corresponding with him not as an act of prison solidarity and support, but as two friends writing, and both of us sending photos of our gardens, instead of just dreaming and writing about this.

Truly, taking a few moments from your day this week to call the US Parole Board makes a difference. Please call, print out a letter and mail and/or fax it in, let your friends and family know. More details included below. Much appreciation...

For more general information on Oscar and the campaign for his release:

Boricua Human Rights
Paintings by Oscar López Rivera

Click here to see a short video by a relative of Oscar's.
Urgent Action Needed in Rivera Parole Decision

Please let me know if you have any questions about Oscar, his case, what to say to the parole board, etc. Please pass this info along. !Palante, siempre palante!

________________________________________________________

Forwarded message:

WEEK OF SOLIDARITY WITH OSCAR LOPEZ RIVERA

Organizers estimate that over 7,000 faxes and letters have been received by the US Parole Commission and people from the US, Puerto Rico, and around the world have been calling daily. The phone lines have been busy for 15-20 minutes at a time and the fax line has been jammed up to an hour at a time. The US Parole Comissioner has stated to the media that they have never had a case like this, with so much activity. Various people have been told that the only way to make their opinions heard is only through writing. PLEASE DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED. KEEP TRYING. KEEP CALLING, FAXING AND MAILING YOUR LETTERS TO THE US PAROLE BOARD. Spread the word on your personal and organizational Facebook account. WE WILL LET EVERYONE KNOW AS SOON AS WE HEAR WORD FROM THE PAROLE COMMISSION.

CALL IN TODAY!

The US Parole Commission has said they intend to make their decision to confirm or reject the negative recommendation by the US Parole Examiner 30 DAYS AFTER THE PAROLE HEARING OF JANUARY 5, 2011 on Puerto Rican Political Prisoner Oscar López Rivera, #87651-024, currently incarcerated at FCI Terre Haute. Oscar, 68 years old, is presently serving his 30th year of prison for struggling for Puerto Rican independence. The National Boricua Human Rights Network and the Puerto Rico-based Comité Pro-Derechos Humanos are urging the parole commissioners to reject the wrong-headed and politically punitive recommendation of the parole examiner. We intend to swamp the Parole Board with letters, faxes and calls until they respond positively.

PLEASE DO THE FOLLOWING 3 THINGS:

1) DAILY CALL-IN CAMPAIGN (Jan 31 onward until we receive word from the USPB): CALL the Parole Board in support of Oscar Lopez Rivera from 9:00am until 5:00 PM (EST) CALL and have others call. It only takes 5 minutes. The number is: 301-492-5990 hit 0 to speak to operator. They will tell you that you must send your opinion in writing. That is fine. KEEP CALLING ONCE A DAY UNTIL FRIDAY. PLEASE DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED. Sample script is below.

Hi, I'm calling for the release of Oscar Lopez and I live in Chicago [NY, VT, ME, etc.] The Parole Commission should parole Oscar López # 87651-024 immediately, in spite of the hearing examiner’s recommendation to deny parole.

IF YOU HAVE TIME, USE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

1) Oscar has the support of a broad sector of Puerto Rico’s civil society as well as Puerto Rican and Latino communities throughout the United States.

2) Oscar was not accused or convicted of causing injury or taking a life. He was never accused or convicted of participating in the 1975 Fraunces Tavern bombing or any other action that resulted in injury or death.

3) President Clinton’s determination that Mr. López Rivera’s sentence was disproportionately lengthy, and his offer that would have resulted in Mr. López Rivera’s release in September of 2009.

2) Download this letter and fax it right away. Fax Number: 301-492-5543, Alternative Fax Number: 202-492-5307 Remember the Parole Commission has stated their intention to make their decision by Feb. 4. Get as many of your friends, family, colleagues and forward to your Facebook and retweet.

3) MAIL Letters to:

Isaac Fulwood, Chairman

United States Parole Commission

5550 Friendship Boulevard, Suite 420

Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815

Re: Oscar López Rivera, #87651-024, FCI Terre Haute

Please keep close track of the letters sent/faxed to the Parole Board and let us know at alejandrom@boricuahumanrights.org.

LET'S FREE OSCAR!

thank you for all your work and solidarity,

Alejandro Luis Molina

alejandrom@boricuahumanrights.org

National Boricua Human Rights Network

2739 W. Division Street

Chicago IL 60622

twitter: olrcat

Comité Pro-Derechos Humanos