Scholars for Oscar López Rivera an Initiative of the National Boricua Human Rights Network (NBHRN) 2739 W
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Scholars for Oscar López Rivera An Initiative of the National Boricua Human Rights Network (NBHRN) 2739 W. Division Street, Chicago, IL 60622 • www.boricuahumanrights.org • [email protected] Oscar López Rivera Freedom Campaign People of conscience in Puerto Rico and around the world – including prominent figures such as Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu, acclaimed novelist and activist Arundhati Roy, and philosopher and public intellectual Cornel West – have joined their voices in support of the immediate release of the longest held political prisoner in Puerto Rican history. Oscar López Rivera, 71, has spent the last 32 years of his life in U.S. prisons under torturous conditions, isolated from his people and his loved ones, and punished for his internationally recognized commitment to the independence of Puerto Rico. A community organizer, decorated Vietnam veteran, father and grandfather, he is serving a 70-year sentence for seditious conspiracy, the exact charge levied against South African freedom fighter Nelson Mandela. In López Rivera’s case, he participated in the struggle to end the U.S. colonization of Puerto Rico, which began in 1898 at the conclusion of the Spanish-American War. Though he was not convicted of harming or killing anyone, he has served more time in prison than many people convicted of violent offenses. Moreover, his co-defendants - released in 1999 by a presidential executive clemency – are produc- tive, law-abiding members of civil society. An international campaign is currently calling on U.S. President Barack Obama to immediately commute the sentence of Oscar López-Rivera. In 2014 – the thirty-third year of his incarceration – this campaign is launching a new initiative: Scholars for Oscar López Rivera. This initiative seeks to integrate intellectuals, writers, and re- searchers into the campaign to free López Rivera. Ways to Support 1) Submit letter of support on university/department stationery. (See attached template). 2) Reach out to other professors of conscience to join the Scholars for Oscar López Rivera initiative. 3) Circulate general public petition to your students, friends, and other allies (See attached petition). 4) Organize educational teach-ins, forums, and activities on your campus. For More Information on the Case of Oscar López Rivera On Democracy Now Send letters and/or petitions to the www.democracynow.org/2013/5/31/oscar_lpez_rivera_after_32_years National Boricua Human Rights Network Statement from the People’s Law Office www.peopleslawoffice.com/case-of-oscar-lopez-rivera/ E-mail: Commentary published by Counterpunch [email protected] http://bit.ly/1kYLDX9 Or Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Oscar López Rivera Mail: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bi7uorpvmSs ATTN: Alejandro Molina Oscar López Rivera’s published letters to granddaughter 2739 W. Division Street Chicago, IL 60622 http://bit.ly/1cjoFoX Oscar López Rivera Biography Puerto Rican political prisoner from high school and entering clinics and other community Oscar López Rivera has served college, he soon had to abandon his institutions; and convince the 33 years in prison as of May 29, studies to help support his family. government and utility companies 2014, convicted of seditious to hire people of color. conspiracy for his commitment Drafted into U.S. Army to the independence of Puerto Like many young Puerto Rican Joined the Rico, though he was not accused men, he was drafted into the Independence Movement or convicted of causing harm or U.S. Army and sent to Vietnam. He came to understand the taking a life. There he began to understand his importance of a people’s self- identity as a Puerto Rican, seeing determination, and also worked other Puerto Rican soldiers with for the release of five Puerto Rican Puerto Rican flags on their helmets Nationalist Party prisoners serving and talking about independence the equivalent of life sentences in and self-determination for Puerto U.S. prisons for their commitment Rico. He began to see that he to Puerto Rican independence. had more in common with the Learning that hundreds of Puerto Vietnamese people, fighting for Ricans had suffered prison for this their own independence and self- just cause, he could little imagine determination, than he had with that one day he would become the the U.S. armed forces. He was longest held of them all. decorated with the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in ground Disproportionately sentenced, operations against hostile forces. torturous prison conditions In 1981, after his conviction for Worked to improve seditious conspiracy and sentence Honorably discharged from the of 55 years for being part of Serving a sentence of 70 years, he is Army, he returned home to find the Armed Forces of National the longest held political prisoners Chicago’s Puerto Rican community Liberation, prison authorities began in the history of Puerto Rico and in dire straits: many close friends to single him out for more onerous one of the longest held in the world. and neighbors had succumbed treatment. In 1986, following a He is 71 years old, and will be 80 by to the drug epidemic; the government sting operation, he and the time of his release date in 2023. problems of education, housing, others were accused of conspiring No other country keeps its political unemployment and health had to escape from prison, and he was prisoners behind bars for as many reached catastrophic levels; and sentenced to an additional 15 decades as does the United States. the power structure responded years. Again, he was not convicted with negligence and bigotry. of causing harm or taking a life. Early Years Born in 1943 in San Sebastián, Unwilling to ignore these unjust The government used the sting Puerto Rico, at age 14 he moved conditions, he became a talented operation as justification for placing to Chicago, as part of “Operation community organizer, helping to him in supermax prisons under Bootstrap,” a mass migration of implement bilingual education; torturous conditions of isolation for Puerto Ricans to U.S. cities in integrate the public universities; more than 12 years, during which search of work. He quickly learned offer educational programs in the he saw his family only through a English and helped his Spanish- prisons; found alternative schools, glass barrier, deprived of all human speaking neighbors. Graduating health and drug rehabilitation contact. His granddaughter was 1 seven years old when he was have been released in September Three U.S. presidents have finally able to hug her for the first of 2009. Oscar has now served an exercised the pardon power with time. When his mother died from additional 15 years in prison with Puerto Rican political prisoners: Alzheimer’s, he was not allowed to good discipline. attend her funeral. Those released in 1999 were • President Truman in 1952 received with a hero’s welcome, commuted Nationalist Party In prison, the other prisoners and went on to live productive, prisoner Oscar Collazo’s death affectionately call him “El Viejo” law-abiding lives, fully integrated sentence to one of life in prison; (old man). He has taught many into civil society. of them to read and write, and to • President Carter in 1977 speak English. A self-taught artist, President Clinton did not offer to commuted the sentence of his paintings and drawings were commute the sentence of Oscar’s Nationalist Party prisoner Andrés exhibited in Not Enough Space, an co-defendant Carlos Alberto Figueroa Cordero, and in 1979 exhibit that traveled throughout Torres, also serving a sentence commuted the sentences of the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Mexico. of 70 years, also never accused Nationalist Party prisoners Oscar He now teaches fellow prisoners to or convicted of causing harm or Collazo, Lolita Lebrón, Rafael draw and paint. A voracious reader, taking a life. In July of 2010, he Cancel Miranda and Irvin Flores, he tries to keep abreast of current was paroled after serving 30 years, after they served 29 and 25 years in world events. A vegetarian and and also received with a hero’s prison; exercise enthusiast, he works hard welcome. to maintain his health. • President Clinton in 1999 Oscar is now the only one of his commuted the sentences of Edwin 1999 commutations generation still in prison. Cortés, Elizam Escobar, Ricardo In 1999, President Clinton Jiménez, Adolfo Matos, Dylcia commuted the sentences of eleven Parole denied Pagán, Juan Segarra Palmer, Alberto of Oscar’s co-defendants after they The U.S. Parole Commission Rodríguez, Alicia Rodríguez, Lucy served from 16 to 20 years, having recently unjustifiably denied Oscar Rodríguez, Luis Rosa, Alejandrina determined that their sentences parole, ordering that he serve Torres, and Carmen Valentín, after were disproportionately lengthy. another 15 years behind bars before they served 16 and 20 years in He offered to commute Oscar’s he would be considered again for prison. sentence, on the condition that parole, when he will be 83 years he serve an additional ten years in old. Postal mailing address: prison with good discipline. Oscar did not accept the offer, as it did Clemency Oscar López Rivera not include all the Puerto Rican A petition for commutation of 87651-024 political prisoners, and because he his sentence is pending, and asks FCI Terre Haute, PO Box 33 knew, from his extensive experience President Obama to exercise his Terre Haute, IN 47808 at the hands of his jailers, that constitutional powers to grant if he accepted they would never Oscar immediate release. The have allowed him to successfully petition enjoys wide support complete the conditions. Under in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the president’s offer, he would internationally. National Boricua Human Rights Network, 2739 W. Division St., Chicago, IL 60622 • www.boricuahumanrights.org 2 Oscar López Rivera Reasons for Release • Convicted of seditious con- in prison with no disciplin- leaders (United Methodist spiracy (conspiring against ary infractions, because he Church, United Church the authority of the U.S.