López Rivera reminds Americans of a colonial and imperial past whose contours are still visible. But they, and his refusal to accept clemency, entail a political and moral crisis that cannot be looked away his case and the history that backgrounds it force a searching reexamination of what it means to be American. López Rivera's imprisonment, just as his homeland's political status, remains a mystery to most Americans. Now 72 years old, he remains in a federal prison. He was offered clemency by President Bill Clinton in 1999, but rejected it.
SENTIDA NOTA DE DUELO PLUS
A former member of the Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional (FALN), a clandestine paramilitary organization that advocated political independence for Puerto Rico, López Rivera is serving the 34th year of a compounded 70-year sentence for seditious conspiracy plus conspiracy to escape. Oscar López Rivera is undeservedly the most obscure of American political prisoners. Tag and January 6, in one voice, let's say, RELEASE OSCAR NOW, 34 YEARS IS TOO MUCH! On this day, the National Boricua Human Rights Network is asking YOU to participate on Twitter and Facebook: Barack Obama enters his last year in office and Oscar enters his 35th year of imprisonment- the Puerto Rican people's longest-held political prisoner. This call to action on January 6, 2016, his birthday and Three Kings's Day, comes as Pres. The Archbishop of Puerto Rican, 6 Nobel Laureates, 6 Presidents of Latin America, all three major political tendencies in Puerto Rico, and 6 members of Congress have called for his release. Oscar, a Bronze Star decorated Vietnam Veteran has never been charged or convicted of a violent crime, yet has served 12 years in solitary confinement. Now our prayers, fond memories and photographs and her living legacy are what we have to remember Nancy's time here on Earth.Īs Oscar López Rivera approaches his 73rd birthday on Januthe National Boricua Human Rights Network and its allies are launching a social media campaign (Twitter and Facebook) calling for his release. This was a way for her to make sure that these young people would not only claim space, but also be part of giving back to their community. As a result of this effort, nearly a dozen young Latinos are now homeowners in Humboldt Park.
Furthermore, Nancy inspired many of the young Latino entrepreneurs to invest in buying homes in the area, often holding informal gatherings with them. Additionally, her devotion to the community informed her opposition to the destructive presence of RiotFest in Humboldt Park. Thus, she supported, actively the building of the Borinqueneers Housing initiative for Latino veterans, at Norwegian American Hospital, and the construction of the Paseo Boricua Arts Building to enable the community's artists to have a space to live and work. Nancy was deeply aware of the rapid changes that the Humboldt Park community was undergoing and wanted for these to be in consonance with the needs and aspirations of the area's residents. For her, these initiatives would constitute historical markers for future generations to understand the challenges our community faced, and the contributions that it made to the city. In that spirit, she advocated for the naming of a Hispanic Housing Senior building after the Puerto Rican political prisoner Oscar López Rivera, and that she also proposed that the Humboldt Park library be named after Cong. She was always aware of the importance of critical space in community building and wanted to insure that the community's historical memory was inscribed in the 26th Ward. Nancy was a devoted wife and loving mother but she was also an active volunteer in the community, and served as the Alderman's principal political advisor, shaping many of his policies on education, housing, health, community and economic development.īorn into a family of community activists, Nancy very early in her life developed a deep devotion to her Puerto Rican heritage and to her community. Words of condolence fail to express the deep sadness that has overcome the Alderman, their three children Rene, Roberto II, and Raquel along with Nancy's parents, Felicita Montañez and Hector Franco, at this time. It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Alderman Roberto Maldonado's wife, Nancy Franco Maldonado, after a courageous battle with cancer.
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