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Un grupo de lesbianas se sumó hoy a la lucha por la excarcelación del preso político Oscar López Rivera, al unirse a las 33 mujeres que mes tras mes se reúnen en el puente Dos Hermanos durante 33 minutos para exigir su liberación.

Convocadas por el colectivo "Mujeres, 33 por Oscar. Hasta su regreso!", las 33 lesbianas entonaron consignas como "lesbianas por Oscar, en el puente hoy están" y "la orientación sexual no es problema para Oscar", para reclamar la excarcelación de López Rivera, quien ayuna cada último domingo de mes en agradecimiento por la solidaridad de las manifestantes.

La portavoz de las mujeres lesbianas, Olga Orraca Paredes, leyó un pronunciamiento en el que exigieron al presidente estadounidense, Barack Obama, que otorgue el indulto al preso político. Esta es la única opción que resta para su excarcelación porque, de lo contrario, según su sentencia por conspiración sediciosa, tendría que pasar unos 10 años más tras las rejas.

"De alguna manera, la comunidad lésbica representa muchas de esas identidades que componen lo diverso, y como grupo, queremos hacernos visibles y llevar un mensaje desde la diversidad por la excarcelación de Oscar López Rivera", expresó la portavoz durante su mensaje.

Agregó que "desde la diversidad, así como es el reclamo nacional e internacional; voces distintas que dicen ya es hora de traerlo a casa, para que vea el mar, para que disfrute con su hija y familia, para que cada una de nosotras siga aprendiendo de su tesón, claridad y fortaleza".

A diferencia de los demás ocasiones en las que han ido abogadas, maestras, psicólogas, abuelas, religiosas, periodistas y funcionarias, entre otras, esta vez las lesbianas llevaron banderas de arcoiris y enmarcaron la lucha con un triángulo rosa invertido que es símbolo de represión.

"La idea de rescatar y utilizar el triángulo rosa fue recordar lo ocurrido en la guerra y reforzar la lucha en contra de la discriminación y la homofobia a través de este símbolo", expresó Orraca Paredes.

En referencia a las habilidades artísticas de López Rivera, las lesbianas llevaron dos cuadros con pinturas de flores y el mar, ya que el prisionero político no lo ha podido ver hace más de 33 años por sus ideas políticas, por lo cual las mujeres han realizado consignas dedicadas a eso como "las lesbianas lucharán para que Oscar vea el mar".

El grupo de mujeres se reúne todos los últimos domingos de mes entre las 4:00 y las 4:33 de la tarde y mensualmente se invita a diversos grupos que se unan al reclamo de que el presidente Obama indulte a López Rivera.

VIBRANTE ACTO EN BUENOS AIRES POR "UN PUERTO RICO LIBRE" Y EN HOMENAJE A SUS PATRIOTAS

By Oscar López Rivera

Dear Karina:

I did not have the fortune of being near you while you were growing up. When you were very small I only saw you from time to time, two or three times a year, through a glass. But even in those brief visits, seeing you small and fragile, it horrified me to think that something could happen to you or that someone could do you harm.

All of us who are parents and grandparents feel horror at the scenes that are taking place in Gaza. When I see those small bodies -- wounded or enshrouded -- I also think of the tragedy of those immigrant children. I often ask myself, "Who cares about the fate of those Central American children, who are being caged like dogs for the simple act of crossing the border?"

In some cases, the media coverage fuels the rejection that so many people feel toward the undocumented people who enter their territory. Most politicians are using this crisis to gain votes. Take the example of Marcos Rubio, the young Republican of Florida. He is not satisfied with the walls that that are being erected at the border or the investment of millions of dollars to militarize the zone. He wants even more: more soldiers and more militarization. In Texas, they mobilize the National Guard. But what about those 55,000 children who have traveled alone, escaping hunger and violence, and who are being "warehoused" until they are deported?

The people and the news media should ask themselves about the role that the US government played in the war of El Salvador during the decades of the 70s and 80s. They should also ask themselves what forces were behind the coup d'état that brought down President Zelaya in Honduras. And finally, they should ask what interests are moving the drug market in the US, and for what purpose this money is used. Once these questions have been answered candidly, it will be very easy to conclude why children from all of those countries are the principal victims of Washington's and Wall Street's policies.

For example, let's take  the problem of the juvenile gangs. They never had any problems with gangs in El Salvador, Honduras or Guatemala until the US government started deporting the juvenile delinquents who had come from Central America. They were children who had grown up in the US, with different values and profound problems of marginalization and discrimination. When they were returned to their countries of origin they barely spoke Spanish or knew anything about their roots. They didn't have anyone to help them adapt to their new reality. So they dedicated themselves to doing what they knew best: organize the gangs, which are now causing the grave problem of violence in the region. These gangs are also involved in drug trafficking, moving many of the drugs that end up in the US.

The Washington government exported a problem, and now that problem is coming back stronger and even more dangerous. Honduras has the highest crime rate in the world. The very president of the country admits that the children and youth are never safe because of the gangs who are kidnaping them and urges the parents to pay the ransom. This is the reason why so many children are abandoning the country to travel many kilometers in harsh conditions and run the risk of dying on the way.

 The US, if it wanted to, could make room for those children. But the politicians only want to be given more money to militarize the borders, hire judges, and build more places to confine these creatures. None of this will resolve the crisis. The children need to be protected, loved, and equipped with the tools that that will make them good citizens. In each of those children I see the love that I have and the fears that parents and grandparents always feel when we think about you, regardless of your age.

 In resistance and struggle, your grandfather.

Oscar López Rivera