Lays the basis for on-going solidarity with Puerto Rico, political prisoners
by Michael Novick
Oscar Lopez Rivera, Puerto Rican former political prisoner and lifelong activist for sovereignty for his homeland, toured southern California last month to thank supporters and to raise funds for urgent grassroots community recovery and rebuilding work in Puerto Rico. He was greeted enthusiastically by turn-away crowds, including many from the Puerto Rican diaspora, at events on college campuses in Santa Barbara, Ventura County, the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, Claremont, Santa Ana and San Diego, as well as at community events in south LA at Dr. Maya Angelou Community High School and in Culver City at the Kirk Douglas Theater. Strong solidarity was expressed, especially by Native American Indian, Black and Chicano/Mexicano communities and activists.
Oscar and his traveling companion, Alejandro Molina of the National Boricua Human ights Network also met privately with local activists in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles to discuss on-going solidarity work in So Cal about Puerto Rico and about remaining political prisoners. For more information about how to get involved in the on-going work, contact alianzapr@hotmail.com (Lawrence Reyes of the Puerto Rican Alliance, 310-460-8586) and puertoricansinaction@gmail.com (Nicole and Jorge of PRiA).
