[Pnews] National Puerto Rican Day Parade to Honor Oscar López Rivera

[Prisoner News]

  NATIONAL PUERTO RICAN DAY PARADE HONORS OSCAR LÓPEZ RIVERA AS PUERTO
  RICAN PATRIOT
  <http://www.nprdpinc.org/national_puerto_rican_day_parade_honors_oscar_lopez_rivera_as_puerto_rican_patriot/>

Delivers Call-to-Action to End the Puerto Rican Political Prisoner's 
Incarceration of Nearly 33 Years

*http://www.nprdpinc.org/national_puerto_rican_day_parade_honors_oscar_lopez_rivera_as_puerto_rican_patriot/*

April 29, 2014, New York City -- In the spirit of its 2014 theme, "Un 
Pueblo, Muchas Voces"/"One People, Many Voices", the National Puerto 
Rican Day Parade (NPRDP) has officially called for the release of 
long-time political prisoner, Oscar López Rivera. Arrested in 1981, 
López Rivera was convicted of seditious conspiracy related to his 
actions in the struggle for the independence of Puerto Rico. A 
long-time, vocal champion for Puerto Rican independence, López Rivera 
received a 70-year prison sentence, having spent more than 12 years in 
prisons that rank highest in punitive control, under torturous 
conditions of isolation and sensory deprivation. With this year's 
celebration, the Parade honors López Rivera to recognize his unique 
voice and rally support from the Puerto Rican and Latino communities, as 
well as the nearly 2.5 million parade-goers that line the streets of New 
York City's Fifth Avenue, to sign a petition for the release of López 
Rivera.

Puerto Ricans of all ideological and political backgrounds support the 
release of López Rivera since his sentence is widely viewed as not being 
commensurate with his actions. In fact, the 14 other compatriots that 
were imprisoned around the same time as López Rivera were released in 
1999 when President Bill Clinton authorized their release, determining 
that their sentences were disproportionate with their actions.

"Oscar López Rivera was not convicted of a violent crime," says Orlando 
Plaza, Board Member for the National Puerto Rican Day Parade. "He was 
incarcerated for his beliefs and affiliations, and it is time that his 
prison sentence of nearly 33 years comes to an end. For that reason, we 
honor him to generate awareness and mobilize our community in support of 
the 'Free Oscar López' movement."

The National Puerto Rican Day Parade stands in solidarity with members 
of congress, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rican, Nobel Prize laureate 
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a number of religious organizations, labor 
organizations, human rights groups, Hispanic civic and community groups, 
community activists and supporters of all political affiliations in 
Puerto Rico and across the Diaspora in calling for the immediate release 
of the 71-year-old political prisoner.

In October 2013, Puerto Rico Governor Alejandro García Padilla issued a 
statement, saying, "The release of the Puerto Rican Oscar López Rivera, 
after 32 years in prison, is an issue directly related to the basic 
principles of social justice, humanity and compassion. Because of this I 
have asked the President of the United States of America, honorable 
Barack Obama, to execute his constitutional power and grant a 
presidential pardon so he can be freed and reintegrated into our 
society. Justice demands his release." A link to a video of García 
Padilla stating his support, and the support of the Puerto Rican people, 
can be found on the official website for the National Puerto Rican Day 
Parade, www.NPRDPinc.org <http://www.NPRDPinc.org>.

As part of this year's Parade, a contingent from Chicago, led by the 
brother of López Rivera, José López Rivera, and the NYC Coordinator To 
Free Oscar Lopez -- which includes all the New York City groups engaged 
in the "Free Oscar López" movement -- will march down New York City's 
Fifth Avenue to represent him and deliver a rallying cry to generate 
community support for his release. Additional information on the 
movement, as well as links to sign petitions requesting that President 
Barack Obama exercise his executive privilege and grant clemency to 
López Rivera, can be found on the Parade's website, www.NPRDPinc.org.

Applications for the 2014 Parade participation and press credentials are 
available online at the official Parade website, or they can be picked 
up at the Parade offices, located at 145 W. 15th Street, 3rd floor, 
Monday through Friday from 9AM to 5PM or at La Casa, 1230 Fifth Avenue, 
Suite 409 in Manhattan, Monday through Friday from 1PM to 7PM. 
Applications can be submitted via email at application at nprdpinc.org or 
dropped off at these locations.

-- 
Freedom Archives 522 Valencia Street San Francisco, CA 94110 415 
863.9977 www.freedomarchives.org
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