SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO Lucha de mujeres por la libertad de Oscar López Rivera no cesará hasta su regreso Inter News Service (INS) La lucha de casi cuatro años de un grupo de mujeres por la liberación del prisionero político Oscar López continuará hasta su regreso cada último domingo de mes, en el puente Dos Hermanos. La periodista Alida Millán que, junto a la abogada Josefina
Pantoja, ha sido forjadora de esta manifestación, explicó que proseguirán en su reclamo hasta el día que López las acompañe en el cierre de la jornada cantando “La Borinqueña” de cara al océano Atlántico. “Teníamos que hacer algo para visibilizar de forma permanente el reclamo por la libertad de Oscar y surgió la idea de replicar lo que se había hecho semanalmente ante el Tribunal Federal en el Viejo San Juan, por los independentistas arrestados el 30 de octubre de 1985”, contó Millán en medio de la algarabía que caracterizó la protesta. La lucha de este grupo no estuvo exenta de preocupaciones y pérdidas. “En ese primer año, hicimos una lista para contar con 32 mujeres que estuvieran en la protesta y que no se arrepintieran”, expuso Millán, directora de CLARIDAD, al revelar que durante el transcurso perdieron a dos de sus luchadoras, víctimas de cáncer. Las 32 Mujeres por Oscar, ¡Hasta su Regreso!, como se denominó el grupo por los años que llevaba encarcelado, se incrementó hasta alcanzar las 35 de la actualidad.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK 35 Mujeres NYC Celebrates Oscar López Rivera’s Upcoming Release It was on March 30, 2014 at 4:00pm when the 33 Mujeres NYC x Oscar had their first rally in El Barrio in front of the colorful Julia de Burgos mosaic mural. After almost three years of holding monthly rallies, we are thrilled to join the Puerto Rican community both on the island and in the diaspora, as well as other supporters around the world, in celebrating the release of Oscar López Rivera and the commutation of his sentence. Oscar is a man beloved by his people, respected by world leaders, (including former U.S. Presidents), and has received tremendous support from all sectors of society across the world. His release on May 17, 2017 will be greeted by millions with joy and celebration. NYC Mujeres x Oscar was formed two months prior to Oscar beginning his 33rd year of incarceration. The group was formed a year after women in Puerto Rico initiated these monthly rallies under the banner of 32 Mujeres x Oscar. We were inspired by their actions and commitment and wanted to stand in solidarity with our sisters and show the broad commitment that exists in securing Oscar’s release both on the island and in the United States. The Mujeres rallied every last Sunday of the month for 33, and then 34 and 35 minutes with each passing year that Oscar remained in prison. It was a new and refreshing way to organize in such a large city, especially when the work was being done by and for women. For the first year and a half we rallied in different neighborhoods throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. Last summer, we created our “Building Bridges for Oscar” campaign where we crossed the Brooklyn Bridge, the Williamsburg Bridge and the Macombs Dam Bridge in the Bronx. While the campaign drew attention to the campaign, we also chose these locations because of how they linked communities and boroughs united in struggle and where the Puerto Rican and Latino community has built a presence in this city. During our rallies we were able to get hundreds of petitions calling for Oscar’s release signed, as well as educate passersby and engage with observers about the campaign to release Oscar. Millán resalta que la cantidad de féminas siempre superaron la cifra mínima. Esto, sin contar a los hombres que también las respaldaron, como el ex prisionero político Juan Segarra, que “hasta se compró su camiseta rosada”, y los licenciados José Juan Nazario y Harry Anduze. Se escogió el rosa para quitarle el estigma al color y darle un perfil de lucha y, por aquello de vindicar el azul, decidieron utilizar la pañoleta de esa tonalidad. Con la pañoleta, rendían homenaje a las madres y abuelas de la Plaza de Mayo en Buenos Aires, por su sentido de perseverancia y compromiso inclaudicable. “Hemos reído, llorado y cantado, vivido momentos de grandes emociones junto a Clarisa, y hemos recibido un gran apoyo, y cada peso que nos aportan lo hemos invertido en esta causa”, relata Millán, a la vez que recuerda que esta proeza ha sido emulada por puertorriqueñas en la diáspora. Antes de lanzar nuevas consignas, Millán asegura que la mayor satisfacción es que no claudicaron y que ya es una realidad, que no más tarde del 17 de mayo, López dejará atrás la prisión de Terre Haute.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS “Las Mujeres Luchando Por Oscar!” by Janeida Rivera, National Boricua Human Rights Network, Chicago Chapter Sunday, January 29, 2017 over 45 women gathered on the corner of Division St. and California Ave., a highly visible area of Humboldt Park, with a message. The group, “35 Mujeres Por Oscar” has, for over 1 year, organized monthly demonstrations to increase visibility, demand the release of and collect petitions to free Puerto Rican Political Prisoner Oscar López Rivera. After 35 years of being unjustly imprisoned for believing that Puerto Rico should be free, President Barack Obama recently commuted Oscar Lopez’s sentence. He will be freed unconditionally on May 17, 2017. 35 Mujeres Por Oscar has committed to continue gathering every last Sunday of the month, but with signs, chants and songs of celebration that Oscar López Rivera is going to be free to go home to Puerto Rico after 35 years. Women drummed and chanted, in English and Spanish, proclaiming our respect of Oscar López as a Puerto Rican patriot. Colorful signs created by national Boricua Human Rights Network (NBHRN) and 35 Mujeres Por Oscar member Janeida Rivera decorated the street corners proclaiming Oscar’s release as a victory, celebrating women activists, advocating for Puerto Rico’s freedom and denouncing the PROMESA fiscal oversight board. Pink carnations were distributed by community member Dorian Ortega with messages for all of the women in attendance. 35 Mujeres Por Oscar member Juanita Garcia lead the chants for the 35 minute demonstration, symbolically representing 1-minute for every year Oscar López was behind bars. 35 Mujeres Por Oscar members donned baby blue scarves stenciled with “35 Mujeres Por Oscar” around their necks and over their mouths. Women from other communities, including a group from Adalberto United Methodist Church arrived with signs of solidarity between the Mexican and Puerto Rican community’s struggles. Thank you so much to the friends, family, and comrades of 35 Mujeres Por Oscar who came out to support celebrating Oscar López’s freedom as the women in the movement