Miami, FL – 20 activists gathered at the Federal Courthouse here, to demand the release of Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab, who has been detained in Miami since October when the United States government kidnapped him from Cape Verde. Saab’s supporters brought banners and signs with messages of solidarity, chanted “Free Alex Saab” and answered questions from reporters who converged on the courthouse.

Eminent Puerto Rican freedom fighter and longtime political prisoner Oscar Lopez Rivera delivered a powerful speech to the crowd. He explained ,“The Venezuelan people as well as the Puerto Rican people are fighting for their sovereignty. The United States intends to strangle the Venezuelan economy and break the legitimate resistance of the people of Simon Bolivar, the liberator.” He added, “As a former political prisoner, as a man who has fought against colonialism, and as a Latin American, I invite all my fellow Puerto Ricans to join our campaign for Alex Saab's freedom.”

Inside, Saab appeared in court for a hearing where the judge decided that the date for his trial will be October 11. In the meantime, Saab’s lawyers will be challenging the legality of his extradition based on the fact that he should have diplomatic immunity.

Gage Lacharite, who traveled from Tampa to represent the Committee to Stop FBI Repression (CSFR) said, “In the past the CSFR has successfully organized to defend the Antiwar 23 and Chicano leader Carlos Montes, and fought hard to defend Palestinian icon Rasmea Odeh. Today we stand with the Bolivarian revolution and with Alex Saab, who has been targeted by the U.S. government because he represents the one and only President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro.”

#Miami #Venezuela #PoliticalPrisoners #OscarLopezRivera #AlexSaab

In response to the call for birthday greetings for political prisoner Simon Trinidad, The National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera received a video message from freed Puerto Rican political prisoner, Oscar Lopez Rivera. Lopez Rivera unjustly spent 35 years in U.S. prison for fighting for the independence of his homeland. Below is the transcription of the video message:

“I want to take this moment to wish a Happy Birthday to comrade Simón Trinidad. He is one of the heroes of our countries. He is one of the heroes who is imprisoned because he wants to fight for the independence and sovereignty of Colombia and for a better, more just world. I know that he is imprisoned in very difficult conditions because I was imprisoned there as well. I know it all too well. But, I know that he will endure all those difficulties in a place like that. I also know that he will not allow and has not allowed the U.S. government to break his spirit.

“I believe this moment is the time to say: this comrade, a revolutionary, a man who has dedicated the majority of his life to fight for a better, more just world – that he must be free, completely free. With his freedom, Colombia can continue fighting for their country and a better world. That is something that all of us must do, and if we want it, we have to stop the interference of the U.S. government in our countries.”

Simón Trinidad is languishing in the Florence, Colorado Supermax prison after a bogus extradition to the United States in 2004, convicted on trumped-up charges, and sentenced to 60 years. The Colombian revolutionary and political prisoner of the U.S. empire will have his 70th birthday in solitary confinement in a federal Supermax prison.

Organizers are asking people to email their birthday greetings for Simón to simontrinidadlibre@gmail.com before his birthday on July 30. On his birthday, the group is calling for a Twitterstorm, in Spanish a Twitazo, that will then post the greetings on their Twitter account @SimonTrinidadLi and ask people to use this Tweet format:

#FreeSimonTrinidad @realDonaldTrump

#UnitedStates #RicardoPalmera #PeoplesStruggles #PoliticalPrisoners #PuertoRicanPrisoners #SimónTrinidad #OscarLopezRivera

En repuesta a la llamada por deseos por el cumpleaño del president politico Simón Trinidad, El Comité Nacional a Liberar Ricardo Palmera recibió un mensaje de video del preso politico Puerto Riqueño, Oscar Lopez Rivera. Lopez Rivera injustamente pasó 35 años encarcelado en los EEUU por luchando la independencía de su patria. Abajo está la transcripción de su mensaje.

“Quiero tomar este momento para desear al de feliz cumpleaño compañero, Simón Trinidad. El es uno de los héroes de nuestros países, uno de los héroes que está preso porque quiere luchar por la independencía, la soberanía de Colombia y por un mundo mejor y más justo. Yo sé que [el cárcel] es un sitio difícil dónde está preso porque estuve ahí, lo conozco bien. Pero, yo sé que él se va aguantar todo lo difícil que es ese lugar. Y que no va a permitir, no ha permitido, que el gobierno estadounidense rompe su espiritú.

Creo en este momento de decir que este compañero, un revolucionario, un hombre que ha dedicado la mayor de su vida por un mundo mejor y más justo, él debe estar libre, en completa libertad. [Con él] se puedan seguir luchando por su Colombia y un mundo mejor. Algo que todos y todas debemos que hacer y si queremos parar la ingerencia del gobierno estadounidense en nuestros países.

Simón Trinidad está languidiciendo en Florence, Colorado en una Supermax prisión Federal déspues una extradición falsa en 2004, convicto por cargas falsas, y sentenciado por 60 años. El revolucionario Colombiano y preso politico del Empirio de los EEUU se va a pasar su 70 cumpleaño en confinamiento solitario.

Organizadores piden a las fuerzas progresivas y populares a mandar por email su deseos por su cumpleaño de Simón a simontrinidadlibre@gmail.com antes su recharges de cumple, el 30 de Julio. En está fecha el grupo está llamando por Twitazo en el Twitter con este formato:

#FreeSimonTrinidad @realDonaldTrump

#EstadosUnidos #RicardoPalmera #PeoplesStruggles #PoliticalPrisoners #SimónTrinidad #OscarLopezRivera

New York, NY – Over 300 people gathered at Columbus Circle in New York City on September 21 to rally and march for Puerto Rican independence. The action was just one of many organized by various groups around different issues over the weekend, in response to the United Nations General Assembly.

The rally started with a series of speeches and chants. The crowd then marched to Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, near the UN. The program continued with speeches from Puerto Rican, oppressed nationality, and solidarity organizations.

Lorraine Liriano, one of the emcees from A Call to Action on Puerto Rico, led chants and encouraged the crowd to continue fighting for liberation.

“We don’t need to be given our freedom. We need to fight for our freedom,” said Liriano.

One notable speaker of the day was Oscar Lopez Rivera, a prominent Puerto Rican liberation activist and freed political prisoner. Rivera spoke about the importance of Puerto Ricans being unafraid to fight back against U.S. imperialism, and for the youth to continue the struggle. He also emphasized the need for solidarity with other countries under attack by the United States, including Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua.

“Imperialism will never stop trying to destroy anything that is against it,'' said Rivera. “In Cuba right now, we have an embargo, trying to stop Cuba from moving forward. All of us have the obligation to give support to Cuba. Cuba has shown us what solidarity is all about. Cuba has shown us that we could defeat imperialism.”

The rally ended with a cultural performance and music. The action was organized by Frente Independista Boricua and NY Boricua Resistance.

#NewYorkNY #PeoplesStruggles #PuertoRico #OscarLopezRivera

Chicago, IL – El 18 de mayo en una manifestación en la ciudad de Chicago, Rasmea Odeh le dio la bienvenida al ex-prisionero político Oscar López Rivera. Oscar López duró 35 años en una prisión de los EE.UU. Fue encarcelado injustamente por haber luchador por la independencia de su patria Puerto Rico. Al igual que él, Rasmea Odeh también enfrenta represión y deportación por parte del gobierno de los EE.UU. debido a su activismo por la liberación de Palestina.

Al recibirlo, Rasmeah le dijo, “Donde quiera que yo me encuentre, estaré luchando por la independencia de Palestina y seguiré apoyando la independencia de Puerto Rico”. La multitud de alrededor de mil personas y mayormente puertorriqueña, aclamaron su apoyo al héroe nacional. López Rivera dijo en sus declaraciones “nosotros nunca desviamos de nuestro objetivo de descolonizar a Puerto Rico”. Agregando también “Yo he luchado toda mi vida contra el colonialismo. El colonialismo es un crimen contra la humanidad y los pueblos colonizados tienen el derecho a luchar por su liberación bajo cualquier circunstancia”.

#ChicagoIL #PeoplesStruggles #PoliticalPrisoners #PoliticalRepression #RasmeaOdeh #OscarLopezRivera

Chicago, IL – Rasmea Odeh embraces former political prisoner, Oscar López Rivera, at a rally in Chicago, on May 18. López Rivera spent 35 years in a U.S. prison. He was unjustly imprisoned for fighting for the independence of Puerto Rico, his homeland. Like him, Rasmea Odeh is up against repression – deportation by the U.S. government for her activism for a free Palestine.

Odeh said to him, “Wherever I land, I will continue my fight for Palestinian independence, and I will continue to support the independence of Puerto Rico.” The crowd of about 1000 people, mainly Puerto Rican, thundered support for their national hero. López Rivera said in his remarks, “We never lost sight of our goal to decolonize Puerto Rico.” He also stated, “I have struggled all my life against colonialism. Colonialism is a crime against humanity. Colonized people have the right to struggle for their liberation by any means necessary.”

#ChicagoIL #PuertoRico #PoliticalPrisoners #PuertoRicanPrisoners #RasmeaOdeh #OscarLopezRivera