'Jose Lopez Day' declared in Holyoke in honor of activist's visit to city
HOLYOKE -- For his work within and on behalf of the Puerto Rican community, activist Jose L�pez was honored in City Hall Monday. During a press conference, Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse declared March 28, 2016 "Jose L�pez Day" with a mayoral commendation. L�pez spoke at the Holyoke Public Library Monday evening about the Puerto Rican independence movement and identity outside of the island. He is the brother of Oscar L�pez Rivera. In the 1980s, L�pez Rivera was sentenced to 55 years in federal prison for an array of charges including seditious conspiracy. He was a member of the Fuerzas Armadas de Liberaci�n Nacional, Spanish for the Armed Forces of National Liberation. The paramilitary organization advocated for the independence of Puerto Rico from the United States. Now in his 70s still serving his sentence in an Indiana federal facility, L�pez Rivera is called a political prisoner by supporters and a terrorist by those petitioning to keep him behind bars. L�pez has advocated internationally for the release of his brother and is an expert on Puerto Rican identity in the U.S. The effort to advocate for his release has received support locally. Several buildings along Main Street feature drawings of L�pez Rivera and call for him to be free. CONTINUE READING.
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What is Move for Life?
by Leony Calder�n, Mu�vete
Move for Life! is an annual one day community-driven outdoor event to kick-off the Spring/Summer physical activity seasons. Move for Life! has three primary objectives:
1) to promote and support an active lifestyle;
2) to showcase the community's free and or low cost physical activity programming; and
3) to foster ongoing collaboration and networking amongst these groups.
Move for Life! brings together the community to plan the event over a three month period, features community organizations, programs, individuals as well as cultural activities and entertainment. Move for Life! This year will be on Saturday, April 2, 2016, 12 noon to 4:00 p.m. inside Humboldt Park at the southeast corner near Division and California.
If your organization or program would like to take part in showcasing call or email for a registration form, 773-342-0855, moveforelife@prcc-chgo.org.
Volunteer opportunities available, community service hours and enrichment hours students welcome.
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34 Mujeres X Oscar-CHI Take Logan Square
by Janeida Rivera, National Boricua Human Rights Network
Saturday March 26th, 34 Mujeres X Oscar congregated in Logan Square for their monthly rally to call for the freedom of Puerto Rican Political Prisoner Oscar L�pez Rivera. This group, a collective of women that is an initiative of the National Boricua Human Rights Network, convenes monthly and chants and hold signs that demand Oscars release, asking cars passing by to honk in support, displaying their social media hashtags for the curious commuters, their 34 Mujeres X Oscar Chicago banner and Puerto Rican flags for each minute representing the length of years Oscar L�pez Rivera has been incarcerated.
Logan Square has received this group warmly and people who pass them, honk, raise their fists, shout affirming things and stop for more information about the Campaign to Free Oscar. Several local residents have volunteered to help distribute flyers. Men are welcome to join in support of this women-led monthly gathering and hold signs, collect petitions, chant or carry a banner and children are also welcomed to shake a maraca, dance, chant and participate as well!
Please join us for our next 34 Mujeres X Oscar - CHI gathering on April 30, 2016 to have time to park, grab a flag, poster, maraca or flyers/petitions at 2:30PM and the event begins and ends promptly from 3:00PM to 3:34PM. Bring friends and family and let's gather in the name of justice and peace!
"Justicia y paz, ni un a�o mas!"
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"Planting Flags on Division Street" NOW ON SALE!
Profits on every copy sold to benefit the Campaign to Free Oscar
Planting Flags on Division Street is a 32-page bilingual picture book for children ages 4+. The title alludes to our hopes to share a simple story of a little girl missing her grandfather that spotlights aspects of our culture as it tells the story of political prisoner Oscar Lopez. It is more important than ever to tell stories that highlight the culture, family and struggle that bring us together as Puerto Ricans. The struggle for Puerto Rican freedom is ongoing, we should never forget the struggle or the men and women who have given and continue to give everything for our freedom. BUY YOUR COPY NOW AND SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN.
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When you do your Holiday shopping at AmazonSmile, Amazon donates 0.5% of the purchase price to Puerto Rican Cultural Center
 Bookmark the link http://smile.amazon.com/ch/23-7347778 and support us every time you shop.
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PRCC Launches Updated Website
by Kevin Garcia, PRCC Tech Team
The PRCC Tech Team has launched the new and improved website for the Puerto Rican Cultural Center. The website has been in development for the past year with updating and adding content that would benefit the organization and the community. L. Alejandro Molina, is lead of the Tech team that includes Carlos Mu�oz and Kevin Garcia. The three have collaborated over the course of six months to provide a solid user friendly experience for anyone who is interested in learning more about the Puerto Rican Cultural Center and its programs.
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National Puerto Rican Agenda
A Newsletter documenting the Puerto Rican Stateside Response to the Fiscal and Humanitarian Crisis
unidosporpuertorico.wordpress.com
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Puerto Rico/Puerto Ricans: A Diaspora Summit
Top scholars and leaders will come together to explore solutions to the critical problems facing our community at "Puerto Rico/Puerto Ricans: A Diaspora Summit." The weekend-long event will examine the crisis on the island and focus on the impact it has had on Puerto Ricans living in the United States. Join us on April 22 and 23 at the Silberman School of Social Work to add your voice to this important dialogue. Program & Speakers
The summit will feature panels and breakout sessions on topics such as health, economics, political participation, and community development. Participating organizations will also have the opportunity to share information about their work, and visitors to the city can sign up for a walking tour of El Barrio. Confirmed guests include: Archbishop of San Juan Roberto Gonz�lez Nieves, Counselor to the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury Antonio Weiss, Congressman Luis V. Guti�rrez, Congressman Jos� Serrano, Congresswoman Nydia Vel�zquez, New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Illinois State Senator Iris Y. Martinez, New York State Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, Labor leader Dennis Rivera, and journalist Juan Gonz�lez. View the latest schedule.
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No More Colonialism Disguised as Financial Assistance: The US Must Relinquish Puerto Rico
by Nelson A. Denis, Truthout | Op-Ed
 This year, 2016, marks a new era in Caribbean colonialism. The US Congress is preparing a "Financial Control Authority," which will supervise the finances of the entire government of Puerto Rico -- its legislature and courts, public authorities, pension system and all leases, union contracts and collective bargaining agreements. The authority will also restructure the entire public workforce (including teachers and police), freeze public pensions and ensure "the payment of debt obligations." Then it will issue its own debt, spend the funds as it sees fit and leave Puerto Rico to pay the bill.
The authority will also have prosecutorial powers. It will be empowered to "conduct necessary investigations" into the government of Puerto Rico, or in other words, be empowered to hold hearings, secure government records, demand evidence, take testimony, subpoena witnesses and administer oaths -- under penalty of perjury -- to all witnesses.
Any witness who fails to appear or to supply information will be subject to criminal prosecution and removal from office. This includes any elected official on the island: even the governor and attorney general.
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FOR PUERTO RICANS IN CHICAGO, NO ONE'S AN ISLAND
Jose L�pez sits comfortably in his wicker chair as a February blizzard rages on outside, the wall behind him a collage of Puerto Rican literature and artifacts. When it comes to his homeland of Puerto Rico, L�pez has clear ambitions. He wants his countrymen to decide for themselves what their economic future should be, instead of being saddled with an uncontrollable debt they didn't solely create. "Puerto Ricans need a constituent assembly where they decide what they want," L�pez says. "You could have a level of economic investment in Puerto Rico's future that could allow it to self-actualize as a nation-state." But he knows Puerto Ricans ultimately don't have the power to decide their future - it lies in the hands of the U.S. government. "You could ask any Puerto Rican what he wants or what she wants and it'll have no impact whatsoever. You're asking the wrong question," L�pez says. "The real question is, 'What does the United States want to do with Puerto Rico?' Because Puerto Rico belongs to, but is not a part of the U.S." CONTINUE READING.
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Democratic Puerto Rico Debt Bills Give Pensions Preference
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Senator Bob Menendez speaks on Aug. 18, 2015,
in South Orange, New Jersey
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Senate Democrats, led by Robert Menendez of New Jersey, put out Monday their version of a plan to tackle Puerto Rico's growing debt crisis -- an ambitious, broad restructuring of the territory's debt coupled with billions in tax breaks and other aid.
The plan is almost certain to be rejected by House Republicans, who plan on releasing their own legislative proposal this month.
A pair of bills released by Menendez on Monday would give Puerto Rican pensions preference over bondholders, who would face a steep haircut in court.
The sweeping territory-wide restructuring authority proposed in the bills, which would apply to the full $70 billion of the territory's debt, will surely face resistance from debt-holders.
Fully funding pensions is no small matter; Puerto Rico's retirement system has about $46 billion in liabilities and about $2 billion in assets.
Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch rejected the Democratic proposal late Monday.
"While I have yet to see the full legislative text of the proposals, from what I've read, Senate Democrats appear to want to move the goal posts on broad debt restructuring to favor public pensions and pair it with tens of billions of federal funds for Puerto Rico without any sense of where the funds come from," the Utah senator said in a statement. "While this may make for good sound bites, it does not seem to be a serious effort to help the people of Puerto Rico."
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Puerto Rico's imperial hangover
by Pedro Reina-P�rez, Boston Globe
 FOR NEARLY FOUR decades, Puerto Rico's police force illegally surveilled, tracked, and documented the lives of islanders sympathetic to the cause of independence from the United States. Late last year, authorities began releasing the last 4,000 surveillance files compiled between 1948 and 1986, in what constituted one of the most scandalous cases of government repression ever seen in a US jurisdiction. Another 3,000 files had been released just previously and are now in the process of being organized. Together, these 7,000 files have gone unclaimed by their owners since 1998, when a court order was issued forcing the police to turn them over, unredacted and in their entirety, to the citizens who had been watched and followed. All the files are now available at the General Archives in San Juan. The turnover of these carpetas takes place at a moment of increasing historical and political complexity for Puerto Rico, given the financial insolvency of this unincorporated territory of the United States. Earlier this week, the US Supreme Court heard the second of two cases related to the island's political condition. The insular government has an unpaid public debt of over $72 billion and claims that public money will run out in May, while its creditors, among whom are several hedge funds, are rushing to court to collect their part of it - a process that could take years, if Congress fails to act on the matter. At risk is potentially the largest default ever to occur in the municipal bond market in the United States. The situation has no legal precedent, given that the Puerto Rican government is not fully covered by the laws that apply to the states of the union. The amount in question - which does not contemplate the insolvency of the government retirement and public-health systems - is much greater than the per-capita indebtedness (the debt ratio) of states like Texas and California. CONTINUE READING.
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Inside the Billion-Dollar Battle for Puerto Rico's Future
The impoverished island turned to hedge funds to stave off collapse. Now someone has to pay.
By JONATHAN MAHLER and NICHOLAS CONFESSORE
 The money poured in by the millions, then by the hundreds of millions, and finally by the billions. Over weak coffee in a conference room in Midtown Manhattan last year, a half-dozen Puerto Rican officials exhaled: Their cash-starved island had persuaded some of the country's biggest hedge funds to lend them more than $3 billion to keep the government afloat. There were plenty of reasons for the hedge funds to like the deal: They would be earning, in effect, a 20 percent return. And under the island's Constitution, Puerto Rico was required to pay back its debt before almost any other bills, whether for retirees' health care or teachers' salaries.
But within months, Puerto Rico was saying it had run out of money, and the relationship between the impoverished United States territory and its unlikely saviors fell apart, setting up an extraordinary political and financial fight over Puerto Rico's future.
On the surface, it is a battle over whether Puerto Rico should be granted bankruptcy protections, putting at risk tens of billions of dollars from investors around the country. But it is also testing the power of an ascendant class of ultrarich Americans to steer the fate of a territory that is home to more than three million fellow citizens.
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Visit us at unidosporpuertorico.wordpress.org for an updated list of articles on the Puerto Rican fiscal crisis
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From Puerto Rican Cultural Center & Programs
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Spotlight on Safe Passage: Glenda Lee Guzman
Article and photograph by Michael Kurshan-Emmer
 This year Glenda Guzman began working for the Puerto Rican Cultural Center's Safe Passage Community Watch (SPCW) program at Chopin Elementary as team lead. She had previously worked Safe Passage at Chopin but as Chopin's Safe Passage program fell under the umbrella of PRCC this year, Glenda made the transition along with some of the other previous staff at Chopin. From her first day it was clear that Glenda is someone who goes above and beyond in her efforts to get to know the children and parents on her route, in order to provide the safest, most friendly safe passage route imaginable, and to provide the most caring, compassionate, and encouraging work place environment for the SPCW staff at Chopin. The skills Glenda Guzman brings to the table are not something that can be taught or learned quickly, but something gathered over a lifetime of experiences that she brought with her from her hometown of Salinas in Puerto Rico, and puts into use everyday here in Chicago. She is a walking example of how although learning is systematized and organized in the halls of schools, true learning is all around us and occurs solely through lived experience.
In addition to the amazing job she does with the families at Chopin Elementary, Glenda Guzman has taken on a role organizing families in the community around the upcoming local school council elections. The role of the LSC has become more and more important as gentrification and displacement threaten the very fabric of the Puerto Rican community in Humboldt Park. This includes the displacement of Black and Latino students from the schools that this very community, through hard work and organizing, turned around and built up over the years. Not an easy task, this young wife and mother from Salinas has excelled at organizing parents to participate and represent their schools in order for families in Humboldt Park and the surrounding areas to have a voice for positive development in their neighborhood schools. Glenda Guzman herself is running as community representative for the LSC at Chopin so if you see her name on the ballot there, cast your vote for her!
As a participant in the Community As A Campus (CAAC) initiative in Humboldt Park, Glenda has been an active participant in the Parent Popular Education Institute, one of the three institutes set out in the CAAC's five-year plan. Her role has included outreach and recruitment of parents in the community as well as directly working with parents, tutoring in computer literacy at Clemente Community Academy's Parent University. Ms. Guzman's energy is contagious as she truly exemplifies the spirit of self-actualization in real world terms, while selflessly and modestly helping all those who she comes into contact with on a daily basis. Those who know her would tell you that she truly puts into practice the motto of the PRCC, as she lives and helps others to live.
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Springtime at Centro Infantil Consuelo Lee Correjer!
by Jacqueline Tovar, Centro infantil Corretjer
 Now that we are enjoying spring weather, we take our children outside. Today, classroom Coqui went to the park. It is important for our children to have fun and enjoy time to play. Teachers Maritza and Alma walk the children three blocks to the park. Upon arrival they observe the park so it's safe for the children. They sit down and discuss the rules for play- how they should go down the slides and to be careful when they are running. Our children enjoy the playground and they learn to cooperate by taking turns when using the slides and see-saw.
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It Only Takes One Person
by Anthony De Jes�s, Integrated Paseo Program, PRCC
 Integrated PASEO offers FREE "Seeking Safety" counseling at the Norwegian American Hospital every weekday, Monday through Friday at anytime between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM and at anytime between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Integrated PASEO offers free testing to individuals for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the Hepatitis-C Virus (HCV), and other sexually transmitted infections (STI's). For those who screen positive, a free referral is made for treatment; any individual who screens positive for substance abuse and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are able to participate in the "Seeking Safety" program. Or stop by the Garfield Park Community Center location on any weekday, Monday through Friday at anytime between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM, to receive free HIV and HCV testing and screening, free harm reduction kits, free female and male condoms, and free packages of lubrication.
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"Never give up on someone with a mental illness. When 'I' is replaced by 'we', illness becomes wellness"
By Shannon L. Alder, Esperanza Program, PRCC
 The Esperanza Program aims to link individuals 18 and over who have been diagnosed with a mental illness to qualified mental health care providers. We provide support, assessments, case managements and information and referrals to support services including but not limited to health insurance, food, and housing. We aim to help and support those in need of help who have been diagnosed, so that together we can help them become functional members of society.
We are located at 1112 N California Monday through Friday 9:00 AM TO 5:00 PM or by appointment except on Tuesdays. Tuesdays we are located at 4312 W North Ave at the Trina Davila Community Center between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. For more information, please call 773-227-7794.
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 November Chicago Magazine "Why Jos� L�pez Stands Between Gentrification and Humboldt Park"
Be sure to pick up the November issue of Chicago Magazine, which features an interview by Puerto Rican Cultural Center ED Jos� E. L�pez conducted by Elly Fishman.
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4 Updates to Google Forms You're Going to Love
Earlier this week, Google announced a list of new features for Google Forms. Boasting templates that come pre-populated with suggested questions based on your use case and the ability to see who has completed your form and who hasn't, these new features not only make it easier to create forms, but also provide insight into how your forms are completed.
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The Campaign to Free Oscar L�pez Rivera has its own
e-newsletter: The Water's Edge/La Orilla del Mar
Published approximately every two weeks
Write to Oscar:
Oscar L�pez Rivera, #87651
FCI Terre Haute
PO Box 33
Terre Haute, IN 47808
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Desfile puertorrique�o de Newark honrrar� a preso pol�tico
El desfile ser� el domingo, 18 de septiembre.
DESFILE PUERTORRIQUE�O DE NEWARK A HONRAR OSCAR LOPEZ RIVERA
DETENIDO EN LA C�RCEL FEDERAL DESDE 1981
NUEVA YORK - El Puerto Rican Day Parade, Inc., una de las m�s importante instituciones Puertorrique�as de Newark, ha decidido honrar a Oscar L�pez Rivera y pedir su liberaci�n inmediata por parte de la administraci�n de Obama por consideraciones humanitarias. El Desfile Puertorrique�o que ser� celebrado el domingo 18 de septiembre de 2016 en el Barrio Norte de Newark alberga una serie de actividades antes del desfile, muchas que tambi�n giraran sobre el caso de L�pez Rivera. En 2016, el Desfile Puertorrique�o va a celebrar su 55 aniversario, un reflejo de la vitalidad y importancia de la comunidad puertorrique�a en Newark. La Parada Puertorrique�a se une al Consejo Municipal de Newark, que aprob� una Resoluci�n el 2 de diciembre de 2015 pidiendo al presidente Obama "que conceda el indulto a Oscar L�pez Rivera para que se libere inmediatamente de la c�rcel, ya que su continuo encarcelamiento es injusto y no sirve ning�n prop�sito leg�timo." El Consejo Municipal de la ciudad de Nueva York tambi�n aprob� un resoluci�n similar en abril de 2015. Oscar L�pez Rivera fue encarcelado en 1981, junto con otros 13 hombres y mujeres, y acusado de conspiraci�n sediciosa por su participaci�n en actividades a favor de la independencia de Puerto Rico. L�pez Rivera ha servido 12 a�os de su condena en un r�gimen de aislamiento. En 1999, el Presidente Bill Clinton ofreci� a conmutar su condena, as� como las de todos excepto dos de sus coacusados, se�alando que L�pez Rivera nunca fue condenado por actos violentos espec�ficos con resultado de muerte o lesiones, y que las sentencias eran "fuera de proporci�n a sus cr�menes". L�pez Rivera, neg�ndose a dejar sus co-acusados en la c�rcel, declino la oferta de clemencia del Presidente. Todos los otros hombres y mujeres enviados a prisi�n con L�pez Rivera desde entonces han sido liberados y llevan vidas productivas y responsables. Oscar L�pez ya ha servido m�s de 34 a�os de prisi�n. Oscar L�pez Rivera ha servido m�s tiempo en prisi�n que Nelson Mandela por similares cargos de sedici�n. Muchas personas prominentes, entre ellos el presidente Jimmy Carter, el Arzobispo Desmond Tutu, Coretta Scott King, otros ganadores del Premio Nobel de la Paz, dirigentes pol�ticos y l�deres mundiales han pedido su liberaci�n. En 2013, el Arzobispo Desmond Tutu declar� que "en todo caso o interpretaci�n, la justicia no se cumple a mantener Oscar L�pez Rivera en la c�rcel." El Comit� de Descolonizaci�n de las Naciones Unidas ha pedido reiteradamente a los Estados Unidos que libere a L�pez Rivera. El movimiento para liberar Oscar L�pez Rivera se ha convertido en una causa unificadora para el pueblo de Puerto Rico, reuniendo a todos los partidos pol�ticos, instituciones religiosas, organizaciones sindicales, y gente de muy diversas creencias pol�ticas en una campa�a humanitaria para su liberaci�n. Todos los representantes puertorrique�os en el Congreso han unido sus voces a este movimiento, as� como el Caucus Hispano del Congreso. En 2013, el actual gobernador de Puerto Rico, Alejandro Garc�a Padilla, que ha visitado L�pez Rivera en la c�rcel, declar� que se trata de "un tema que debe elevarse por encima de las afiliaciones partidistas y preferencias de estatus .... esto toca temas b�sicos de humanidad, justicia y compasi�n." SIGA LEYENDO.
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34 Mujeres X Oscar-CHI in "On The Count"
by Diana Castillo, National Boricua Human Rights Network
 Members of 34 Mujeres por Oscar New York and Chicago shared their experiences on the radio show On The Count--hosted by Steven Mangual--on Saturday March 19th. On The Count is a program that identifies and examines criminal and social justice issues directed towards reducing the inappropriate reliance on punishment and mass incarceration as the primary response to social and economic inequality. It is also the only radio program that is produced and hosted entirely by formerly incarcerated men and women. The radio show was the perfect fit to share the experiences of women who come together the last days of the month to demand Oscar Lopez Rivera's freedom. The radio show gave exposure to the monthly activities women hold in Puerto Rico, New York, Boston and Chicago in solidarity with the Puerto Rican political prisoner who has been in prison for 34 years. The segment highlighted the support and enthusiasm that women are generating in those cities by chanting, holding banners, flags and collecting petitions. 34 Mujeres por Oscar exists to publicize Oscar's case and show Obama that the people demand his release. The members called on other women to join and support the campaign by coming out to the rallies on the last Saturday of the month in Chicago and the last Sunday of the month in Puerto Rico, Boston and New York.
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Reclaman en Puerto Rico liberaci�n de
Oscar L�pez Rivera
por jl/nrm, Prensa Latina
San Juan, 27 mar (PL) Unas 34 mujeres reclamaron hoy la liberaci�n del prisionero pol�tico puertorrique�o Oscar L�pez Rivera, a la vez que anunciaron la publicaci�n de un libro con las consignas utilizadas en los �ltimos tres a�os.  El n�mero m�nimo de participantes, 34, representa los a�os que lleva L�pez Rivera encarcelado en Estados Unidos, 12 de ellos en solitaria, como parte de una condena por conspiraci�n sediciosa por luchar por la independencia de Puerto Rico.La periodista Alida Mill�n anunci� que el pr�ximo mes presentar�n un libro que recoge las consignas elaboradas por las mujeres en los pasados tres a�os, junto a algunas canciones realizadas expresamente para las manifestaciones.El libro, dise�ado por el artista gr�fico Iv�n Figueroa, ser� presentado el 24 de abril, una hora antes de la manifestaci�n de las mujeres, convocada por 34 minutos para las 16:00 horas local.El grupo Mujeres en el Puente, como se hace llamar ahora, se re�ne cada �ltimo domingo de mes en el puente Dos Hermanos, en la entrada de la isleta de San Juan, para reclamar la libertad de quien es considerado el prisionero pol�tico m�s antiguo de Am�rica.Esta vez, los reclamos por la liberaci�n de L�pez Rivera, de 73 a�os de edad, originaron consignas directas al presidente de Estados Unidos, Barack Obama, a quien acusaron de reclamar derechos humanos en Cuba, mientras no los respeta en su propia patria, como evidencia este caso.Obama tiene literalmente en sus manos la libertad del luchador puertorrique�o, ya que bastar�a con un indulto de su parte para que pudiera retornar a hogar en Puerto Rico, pues de lo contrario corre el riesgo de morir en prisi�n.Protestas paralelas se registraron tambi�n en las ciudades de Nueva York, Chicago y Orlando (Florida).Clarisa L�pez Ramos revel� que, al visitarlo en prisi�n a principios de marzo, su padre le manifest� que "siempre env�a un abrazo a las 34 amazonas boricuas que son las que se re�nen los �ltimos domingos de mes".
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Carta de Oscar L�pez Rivera leida
en el Pico Duarte
Siempre es bueno asumir grandes retos como lo est�n haciendo ustedes en el d�a de hoy. Es bueno para la causa por la cual lo est�n haciendo, para su salud f�sica, mental y espiritual; y por el ejemplo que est�n dando. Espero que a medida que suban al Pico Duarte puedan mirar hacia el oeste y ver a Cuba, y luego mirar hacia el este y ver a Puerto Rico, y pensar en el sue�o del Padre de nuestra Patria, el Dr. Emeterio Betances, de Eugenio Mar�a de Hostos, de Jos� Mart�, de Gregorio Luper�n y de Carvajal de unir a los tres pa�ses y crear la federaci�n de las Antillas. No creo que se trataba de un sue�o ut�pico. Todav�a podemos creer que la unidad de las tres es factible.
 Cuba y Rep�blica Dominicana son naciones independientes, y los ciudadanos cubanos est�n viviendo y disfrutando de los sue�os de Mart�. Nosotros todav�a estamos luchando por nuestra independencia y soberan�a. Pero sabemos que vamos a lograr nuestro objetivo de obtener la independencia y la soberan�a de nuestra amada Patria y de transformarla en el jard�n ed�nico, que tiene el potencial de ser. Nosotros nunca debemos aceptar, ni permitir que nos separen de nuestros hermanos y hermanas en Cuba, la Rep�blica Dominicana, ni de la di�spora puertorrique�a.
Cuando ustedes coloquen nuestra bandera en la cima del Pico Duarte v�anlo como un paso adelante para lograr el hermoso sue�o de la unidad. La unidad que Sim�n Bol�var trat� de lograr; la unidad que lograr� unir a toda la humanidad. La unidad que afirma que s�lo hay una raza y que esa es la raza humana. La unidad que necesitamos para alcanzar nuestro objetivo, la independencia y la soberan�a para nuestra amada Borik�n.
Espero que ustedes puedan sentir el amor y respeto que les estoy enviando a todos ustedes y a nuestro compa�ero Ren� desde una celda en una prisi�n en Indiana. Mucho amor y muchas energ�as positivas para ustedes.
En Resistencia y Lucha,
OLR
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por Lyanne Mel�ndez Garc�a / Inter News Service
San Juan, 27 mar (INS).- En medio de la celebraci�n del d�a de Pascua de Resurrecci�n, un grupo de mujeres exigi� hoy la excarcelaci�n del preso pol�tico m�s antiguo de Am�rica, Oscar L�pez Rivera, quien lleva 34 a�os en c�rceles estadounidenses.
Convocadas por el grupo "Mujeres en el Puente", m�s de 34 f�minas utilizaron consignas como "en el Puente estamos hoy, Pascua de Resurrecci�n" con la finalidad de enmarcar que un d�a como hoy intensifican la lucha por la excarcelaci�n de L�pez Rivera, imputado por conspiraci�n sediciosa, delito de car�cter pol�tico. Adem�s entonaron una canci�n alusiva a la celebraci�n del domingo de Resurrecci�n de Jes�s y relacionada a la reciente visita a Cuba del presidente de Estados Unidos, Barack Obama. "All� en Cuba pides Derechos Humanos, pero en tu patria no los est�s respetando y mantienes a Oscar encarcelado", cantaron las mujeres, quienes se re�nen el �ltimo domingo de cada mes para pedir un indulto al presidente Obama, ya que es la �nica opci�n que resta para que L�pez Rivera pueda salir en libertad tras ser condenado a 70 a�os de prisi�n. Una manifestaci�n similar se realiza de forma simult�nea en Nueva York, Chicago y otra en Florida. SIGA LEYENDO.
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"Free Oscar L�pez and all political prisoners now!"
by Miriam Ruiz Rapale
On Saturday 26 March, I was in Chicago on vacation and took the opportunity to participate in the Rally 34 Women for Oscar. As I know by different readings, the Puerto Rican community in the diaspora is as Boricua and as combative in our struggles as us in Puerto Rico. But I never had the opportunity to be present in their activities. I met family and friends of Oscar L�pez, including his lawyer, Jan Susler, whom I admire and respect for her consistency and strength as a woman. To my surprise, a comrade asked me if I would talk on the phone a minute with Oscar. "Of course!", I said. My heart started pounding immediately.
"What am I gonna say?" I thought. But Oscar told me "�C�mo est�s, Miriam?", in Spanish. And though I remained excited and surprised, I felt more comfortable. So I tried to articulate as best and fast as I could all the excitement I felt. First I asked "how are you?", and I listened to his voice so excited and motivated as mine. Then I said, "I've been an activist for a few years in Puerto Rico, especially in the student movement and I know with certainty I'm not the only one who is fighting for your release. There are thousands of young people who can't wait to talk to you and meet you. Please, when you get to Puerto Rico this year, I know that you will have many commitments, but remember us and find us at the University." And he said: "�Seguro que s�! Write me and send me your address, so we can arrange something." He is committed to us as we are with him. What a joy! Hoping that his release is soon, and while I don't know when that will be, we can continue struggling for his release so to start planning to meet him in person soon. I know I speak for my comrades in Puerto Rico when I say that will be the most exciting moment. He is a leader who inspires us and gives us strength to keep fighting even when the crisis "nos jamaquea" constantly in our daily lives. From Puerto Rico and in Chicago we say: "Free Oscar L�pez and all political prisoners now!"
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From Our Community Partners
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Speaker Ryan confirm� el homenaje a los Borinqueneers
La Medalla de Oro del Congreso les ser� entregada el 13 de abril en el Capitolio de EE.UU.
WASHINGTON - La jefatura de la C�mara de Representantes de EE.UU. ha confirmado que la ceremonia de entrega de la Medalla de Oro del Congreso a los antiguos miembros del regimiento 65 de Infanter�a del Ej�rcito, los Borinqueneers, ser� el 13 de abril. El congresista republicano Bill Posey (Florida) y el comisionado residente en Washington, Pedro Pierluisi, indicaron que el speaker Paul Ryan certific� la fecha de la ceremonia, como hab�a adelantado El Nuevo D�a. "Es una ocasi�n hist�rica", indic� Posey. Pierluisi sostuvo que "los Borinqueneers son un gran orgullo para los ciudadanos estadounidenses de Puerto Rico". La medalla, el m�s importante reconocimiento que otorga el Congreso, destaca las ejecutorias y el valor de los miembros del 65 de Infanter�a en la guerra de Corea. El regimiento 65 de Infanter�a, compuesto mayormente por puertorrique�os, fue la �ltima unidad segregada del Ej�rcito estadounidense.
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As� Somos / Who We Are
A new documentary series produced by @CentroPR and @WIPR-TV highlights #PuertoRican Voices stateside. You can now watch #PRVoices HERE> bit.ly/1Lpy3vU #BoricuasOnline
Una nueva serie documental producida por @CentroPR y @WIPR-TV trae a la luz las contribuciones de los #Puertorrique�os en los EEUU. NO TE PIERDAS #PRVoices AQUI> bit.ly/1Lpy3vU #BoricuasOnline
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