Visité a Oscar el día 28 de marzo del 2015. Lo vi  alerta, enterado de todo el acontecer nacional, internacional y de EE UU. Planteó lo que tantas veces: Que hay que diseñar un plan para incorporar la diáspora al rescate de puerto Rico, tanto en lo económico social como en lo político.

Insistió en que hay que  pensar y actuar fuera del cajón, es decir, ensayar cosas nuevas. Comunicó que quisiera ver al Puertorriqueño  desarrollando huertos caseros para hacerse lo más independiente posible en términos alimentarios. Insiste en que se  identifiquen problemas sociales en áreas particulares y que s e organicen grupos para atacar esos problemas uno  a uno, con especial énfasis en la incorporación de mujeres al trabajo. Recordó que en sus luchas como organizador tuvo muy buenas experiencias y logros con las mujeres que incorporó a la lucha.

EAST HARLEM - Preservationists are raising money to restore a mural that pays tribute to one of the leading figures of Puerto Rico's nationalist movement.

The Oscar Lopez Rivera mural, on 107th Street and Third Avenue, was vandalized a little over a year ago. The mural depicts Rivera and another activist Avelino Gonzalez Claudo, who both had their eyes scratched off, according to Marina Ortiz, founder and president of the East Harlem Preservation.

"It was obscene what was done to it," Ortiz said. "It's painful and disappointing. This was a deliberate act of vandalism in my opinion."

The group is trying to raise $2,000 to restore the mural in time for a march on May 30, where a dozen groups will gather to mark the 34th anniversary of his incarcerationand ask President Barak Obama to release him.

On Friday April 3, 2015 Nelson A. Denis, author of the recently released book, "War Against All Puerto Ricans", presented on Paseo Boricua at Nellie's restaurant.

He discussed his work before a packed audience, including a question and answer period. "The War Against All Puerto Ricans" is a powerful and tragic history of U.S. domination of Puerto Rico that explores the Puerto Rican independence revolt of 1950, the FBI and CIA's involvement, and the life and mysterious death of it's charismatic leader, Pedro Albizu Campos.

The public included a number of prominent figures, including New York State Assemblyman Jose Rivera, HITN T.V. executive Mike Nieves, journalist Gelson Borrero, Puerto Rican lawyer and activist Alejandro Torres-Rivera, and the president of Puerto Rico's oldest institution, the Puerto Rican Bar Association's Mark A. Bimbela.

On March 11, 2015, a celebration of International Women's History Month honored the life and legacy of Isabelita Rosado Morales at Hostos Community College sponsored by the Puerto Rican Student Organization. Over 400 students attended this amazing event. Most, if not all, were born decades later and had never heard of these amazing women like Isabelita Rosado Morales and Alicia Rodríguez. After the student leadership welcomed the students and faculty and staff, Professor Ana M. López presented the Keynote speaker, Alicia Rodríguez, that spoke about Doña Isabelita Rosado.

Who was Isabel Rosado Morales?

Melissa Montero, a young Puerto Rican/Ecuadorian activist and filmmaker shared her experiences, as well as part of her film about the life and the struggles of one of Puerto Rico's most prominent Nationalist leaders, Isabel Rosado, who recently passed away at the age of 107. The film itself is a work in progress and Melissa's hope is to integrate herself into the film as part of her process of political consciousness.  Melissa is a New York based filmmaker and activist who was politically transformed as she explored the life of this extraordinary Puerto Rican woman. 

At a regularly scheduled meeting of the NBHRN held on Sunday April 5, Mark A. Bimbela, president of the Puerto Rican Bar Association, announced that his organization, which will celebrate its 175th anniversary on September 12, 2015, is dedicating a special recognition to the Puerto Rican patriot Oscar Lopez-Rivera. They will be contacting the U.S. Bureau of Prisons to request that Oscar be given permission to travel to the island to receive this prestigious award. 

NYC-based artist Jesús Mangual has carved a bust of Oscar López Rivera and will donate part of the proceeds to the May 30th Mobilization and Rally to Free Oscar López Rivera. For raffle tickets, please contact him at: libresoy1898@gmail.com