[Ppnews] Oscar Lopez moves forward with parole appeal process

[Political Prisoner News]

Right the Wrong:

An Update on the Humanitarian Campaign for Oscar López Rivera’s Release

People of conscience throughout the world were 
outraged by news that the U.S. Parole Commission 
refused to parole Puerto Rican political prisoner 
Oscar López Rivera after close to 30 years in 
prison for his support of Puerto Rican 
independence. Thousands of people, including 
members of U.S. Congress, religious leaders, 
artists, scholars, and community members support his immediate release.

The Parole Commission’s inhumane decision, issued 
on February 18, ignored both the specifics of 
Oscar’s case and the broad-based international 
humanitarian support for his immediate release. 
The Commission, basing its unjust decision on 
falsehoods and inaccuracies, ruled that Oscar 
must remain in prison another 15 years or until 
the duration of his sentence, whichever comes first.

Though this represents a significant setback, the 
National Boricua Human Rights Network (NBHRN) has 
no doubt the campaign for Oscar’s freedom will be 
victorious. The Puerto Rican people and their 
allies have succeeded in winning the release of 
three generations of political prisoners, an 
unparalleled accomplishment. This campaign will be no different.

After consulting with Oscar and the campaign for 
his release, his attorney will ask the Parole 
Commission to reconsider its wrongheaded ruling. 
Activists and leaders from the U.S., Puerto Rico 
and abroad have started to aggressively plan and 
launch the next phase of the campaign.

NBHRN urges supporters to once again express 
their support for Oscar’s freedom. There are many 
ways to contribute to this campaign:

·      Sign and circulate the new letter of 
support for Oscar’s release as part of the parole appeal process; (below)

·      Call the U.S. Parole Commission to ask 
them to order his immediate release; (below)

·      Organize discussions and events in your home, community, and university;

·      Donate to the campaign (every cent helps the message travel further)’

·      Attend events, petition drives, and other NBHRN organizing activities;

·      Join your local NBHRN chapter or help start one in your city;

·      Write Oscar and share your support for him and his release.

Thanks to small and large contributions, we hope 
Oscar will soon rejoin his family, community and 
nation. Freedom and justice can only be 
momentarily – but never permanently – deferred.

  For more information, contact Alejandro Luis 
Molina, 
<mailto:alejandrom at boricuahumanrights.org>alejandrom at boricuahumanrights.org

*************************************************

Isaac Fulwood, Jr., Chair    via facsimile 301/492-5543

United States Parole Commission
5550 Friendship Boulevard, Suite 420
Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815

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

Dear Chairman Fulwood, and Commissioners Mitchell, Cushwa and Wilson Smoot:

We write to ask you to reconsider your decision 
to deny parole to Oscar López Rivera, who is 
serving a 70 year sentence for his commitment to 
the independence of Puerto Rico. The U.S. Parole 
Commission has likely never had a case similar to 
his, with such overwhelming evidence to warrant granting immediate parole.

In what other case has an entire nation, in one 
united voice, supported parole, as Puerto Rico did here?

In what other case has a president of the United 
States already declared that the sentence was 
disproportionate, and that he should have been released by September of 2009?

In what other case have 11 co-defendants 
accumulated eleven years of exemplary conduct after their release?

In what other case has the very same Parole 
Commission granted early termination of conditions to those co-defendants?

In what other case has the very same Parole 
Commission granted parole to the only other 
remaining co-defendant, only six months before 
the hearing in this case, after he served 30 years in prison?

In what other case has the Commission received 
tens of thousands of letters of support, 
including from so many elected officials, clergy 
and religious organizations, legal and human 
rights groups, and people who seek justice?

In what other case has the Commission had such 
conclusive proof meeting the criteria for release?

Yet,  you ruled that because of several factors, 
his “release on parole would promote disrespect 
for the law,” apparently ceding to forces opposed 
to his parole, who insist that he is responsible 
for a 1975 New York City bombing for which he was 
neither accused nor convicted, and in which he did not participate.

We ask you to reconsider what promotes disrespect 
for the law. The effect of your ruling is that 
this 68 year old decorated Vietnam veteran, with 
a distinguished record of service to his 
community, will be required to serve 45 years 
behind bars, when he was not convicted of harming 
anyone or taking a life ­ in other words, cruel 
and unusual punishment. No other country in the 
world holds people in prison for almost half a century.

It is not too late for you to fulfill your 
mission, “to promote public safety and to strive 
for justice and fairness in the exercise of 
[your] authority to release and supervise 
offenders under [your] jurisdiction,” by ordering 
the immediate parole of Mr. López Rivera.


Very truly yours,
*************************************************

Parole Board Phone call-in script

9-5 EST until further notice

US Parole Board phone:  (301) 492-5990Hit 0 to speak to operator.

Sample script is below.

Hi, I’m calling for the release of Oscar López # 
87651-024 and I live in Chicago [NY, etc.]

The Parole Commission should reconsider its order 
denying him parole, and grant him immediate 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/Latino  communities and those who support 
human rights 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.
******************************************************************

Coordinating Committee
National Boricua Human Rights Network
2739 W. Division Street
Chicago IL 60622
<http://www.boricuahumanrights.org>www.boricuahumanrights.org
twitter: olrcat

Comité Pro-Derechos Humanos
<http://www.presospoliticospuertorriquenos.org>www.presospoliticospuertorriquenos.org




Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

415 863-9977

www.Freedomarchives.org  
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