Lawrence Benito, Executive Director of the  Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) was the emcee and Emma Lozano, leader of Centro Sin Fronteras, organized the testimonies. The Puerto Rican Cultural Center mobilized a bus full of sympathizers to the event.

COLLABORATE with our interactive exhibit where YOU, for 24 hours, can re-create the inhumane conditions 

Oscar López Rivera has lived for the last 32 years.

GET INVOLVED, be a prisoner or guard for a day!

CHALLENGE & EDUCATE YOUR FRIENDS

REACH through the prison walls & SAY NO TO INJUSTICE

Check out last year's video!

For more information or to get involved please contact Matt McCanna at mattm@boricuahumanrights.org or 708-953-8351

Eduardo Rivera, brother of Idida Pérez, Executive Director of West Town Leadership United, passed away this Monday, April 22nd, 2013 at Illinois Masonic Hospital after battling a long illness. He leaves behind three children and wife Honoria Rivera.

The wake and funeral arrangements for Eduardo are as follows: the Wake, a Church service and dinner will all take place on the same day at:

Nuestra Iglesia de las Americas

2610 N. Francisco (corner of Logan Blvd. & Francisco)

Chicago, Illinois 60647

Friday, April 26, 2013

1:00 to 3:00 pm - For the family

3:00 to 5:30 pm - Open for all

5:30 Memorial and church service

Followed by dinner downstairs

Please feel free to attend any and all of above.

Eduardo will be cremated.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to his widow Honoria.

The Puerto Rican Cultural Center- Vida/SIDA is one of several organizations nationwide to receive funding from Be the Generation Bridge to help increase awareness and knowledge of biomedical HIV prevention research, which includes HIV vaccines, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and microbicides.

What are microbicides and how can they help end AIDS?

Microbicides are products that may be used by men and women and are applied to the rectum or vagina to help prevent or reduce the risk of acquiring HIV during sex. Microbicides could come in a number of forms, including creams, gels, films, slow-release vaginal rings, enemas, and suppositories that release the active ingredients over time.  Microbicides are currently not available to the public, but are being studied in clinical trials. If proven effective, microbicides could help prevent HIV among women around the world but particularly those in developing countries where it most often is spread through unprotected heterosexual intercourse despite efforts to promote abstinence, monogamy and the use of condoms. Unlike condoms, microbicides provide women with an HIV prevention strategy that is not controlled by their sexual partner. Microbicides could also help prevent HIV in both men and women who practice anal sex.

Although several studies have taken place to test the effectiveness of microbicides, ensuring that trial participants adhere to their use as indicated has been a challenge. For this reason it is important that microbicide products are developed with the needs of the end-user in mind.

The Erie house softball team has been in existence for the past eight years. The team has played in a league at Humboldt Park that is made up of not for profit organizations. The league was made up to get these organizations together for the fraternity and unity as these persons struggle daily to help those less fortunate. The camaraderie and athletic competition is an outlet for each team to enjoy as a mental and physical outlet. The league helps to forge bonds with other groups that have similar intentions. 

In the past six years the Erie team has played in five championship series winning two of them. Currently the team is seeking new sponsorship as the Erie Neighborhood House has lost sponsorship appropriations. A new sponsorship would allow the team to continue participation in the league and to strengthen ties in the not for profit field. Any kind of assistance and financial support is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Chris Espada @ cespada@acompactdj.com

This Sunday we begin to recreate the inhumane conditions Oscar López Rivera has lived for the last 32 years

32 activists, community leaders, high school and university students, parents, sons and daughters and LGBTQ persons will spend 24 hours in a makeshift cell to bring attention to the continued unjust imprisonment of Oscar López Rivera.  

GET INVOLVED, bring your classmates, family, friends, and co-workers!

CHALLENGE & EDUCATE YOUR FRIENDS

DOWNLOAD the graphic by clicking here and email to your friends.

Rev. Wilfredo De Jesús, better known as "Pastor Choco," has been selected for the 2013 TIME 100, the magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. The full list and related tributes appear in the April 29 issue of TIME, available on newsstands, tablets and at http://time.com/time100. The TIME 100 list, now in its 10th year, recognizes the activism, innovation and achievement of the world's most influential individuals. De Jesús was also featured on the cover and in the accompanying story of TIME's April 15 edition, "The Latino Reformation," which explored the growth of Latinos among Protestant churches across the U.S. 

De Jesús is a Senior Pastor of New Life Covenant Ministries, one of the fastest growing churches in Chicago and the largest Assemblies of God church in the nation. De Jesús grew up both in the church and in Humboldt Park, which provides him a unique perspective on leading this dynamic and diverse congregation. De Jesús describes his upbringing in Humboldt Park in his book Amazing Faith, available on Amazon.com and in Barnes and Noble.

The Puerto Rican Cultural Center and Chicago's Puerto Rican community extends its warmest congratulations to our community's very own Rev. De Jesús, whose life has been shaped by his amazing faith.

Over 30 people said ¡Presente! to one of the closing events of the art exhibit featuring Antonio Hernández, one of the Cuban 5, and Oscar López Rivera, Puerto Rican political prisoner's artwork. 

The panel, composed of José E. López (Director, Puerto Rican Cultural Center, brother of Oscar López Rivera), Felix Masud-Piloto (Cuban-American and DePaul professor), Mark Clements (Campaign to End Torture & Chicago Alliance against Racist and Political Repression, tortured and unjustly imprisoned for 26 years),and Mary L. Johnson (mother of Michael Johnson, Burge torture survivor) spoke eloquently about the importance of the struggle for different communities across the world.

After the Q&A session, the Network was able to sell 5 Oscar books and 2 CDs. To order yours, email alejandrom@boricuahumanrights.org. View more pics of the event here.

The National Boricua Human Rights Network will be opening an online store in time for the Peoples Parade in June. It will have "Oscar López Rivera: Between Torture and Resistance", a CD collection of songs authored by some of Puerto Rico's most well-known singer-songwriters was also available for sale. "La Vida Es Lucha Toda" tributo a Oscar López Rivera features Roy Brown and Zoraida Santiago, Tony Mapeyé, Lucecita Benítez and Haciendo Punto en otro Son.

The book is available for $15.95 plus s/h and the CD for $12 plus s/h. The classic Oscar T-shirt (image left), are $10 each, plus shipping and handling, and is available in various sizes. The button (same image) is $1. 

To get your copy, contact alejandrom@boricuahumanrights.org. Each copy is $15.95 plus shipping & handling. The Oscar CD is also available and costs $12 plus s/h. 

The CIRILO W. MEIJERS Comerio Cultural Center has dedicated its 33rd FESTIVAL JIBARO COMERIEÑO (June 7-9) to the Puerto Rican community of Chicago, represented by the Puerto Rican Cultural Center Juan Antonio Corretjer of Chicago. In addition, they recognize that the tribute would not be complete without dedicating the festival also to Oscar López Rivera. In this spirit they have organized a "Committee to Free Oscar", which has already published a call urging the townspeople to become involved in the campaign to free Puerto Rico's longest held political prisoner.

The Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture (IPRAC) and the Puerto Rican Cultural Center (PRCC) invite you to join us in our first Eco-Cultural Tour of Puerto Rico from June 6th-11th, 2013.

Where we will stay!

Hotel Media Luna, Comerio, Puerto Rico

Museo de Arte   de Puerto Rico

Total Price: $1,500 (estimated) per person includes Air Transportation, 5 nights, 6 days in Hotel Media Luna, Breakfast and Dinner, Ground Transportation to and from the airport, to and from each excursion and taxes and fees. (Price will vary depending on group size and hotel room occupancy. Price for couples available at cheaper price) DEADLINES: $100 deposit due by Monday, April 22, and balance of the entire $1500 due May 5th for the entire cost of the trip. For more information contact Militza Pagán at 773-227-7794.

Do you qualify for rental assistance?

• Homeless?
• About to be homeless?
• Falling behind in rent?
• Need a security deposit and first month's rent?

Eligibility for Assistance:

• Resident of Humboldt Park or Logan Square
• Seeking housing in the Humboldt Park and Logan Square community
• Behind on rent

For more information, please contact Melissa Rodríguez at 773.227.7794.

In a re-creation of a cell with the same 6x9 dimensions that Puerto Rican political prisoner Oscar López Rivera has endured, 32 Puerto Rican popular personalities will voluntarily submit to a symbolic imprisonment for an hour or more. The event will take place on Wednesday, May 29, 2013, the day on which Oscar was arrested and begins his 32nd year of imprisonment. This project will last 24 hours. This project is being organized by Dr. Fernando Cabanillas, Myrta Cabanillas, attorney José Juan Nazario, and attorney Federico Comas, among others.

The prison cells will be located in the municipalities of San Juan, Caguas, Arecibo, Ponce and Mayagüez. Some of the 56 persons who confirmed their participation as of today are:

* Attorney Carlos Gallisá

* Néstor Duprey

 * Attorney Ignacio Rivera

* Mayor of San Juan Carmen Yulin Cruz

* Prof. Mayra Montero

* Franciscan Father Ángel Darío Carrero

* Senator José Nadal Power

* Artist Nick Quijano

* Dr. José A. Vargas Vidot

* Atilano Cordero Badillo

* Clarisa López (Oscar's daughter)

A second round of tech equipment, mostly CRT monitors, will be recycled this week.