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:

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.

Chicago, IL – 10 de Septiembre Ricardo Jimenez fue el primer Independista que habló al publico atendiendo. Hubo mas de 300 personas. La bienvenida de los patriotas, quien lucharon valientmente contra la colonazación Estadounidense de Puerto Rico, duró desde las 6 hasta las 11:30 de la noche. Organizada primeramente por palabra de boca, fue impresionante que mas gente vinó durante la tarde para participar en este momento historico y alegre da la comunidad Puertoriqueña. La gente escuchó unas palabras conmovientes de Ricardo Jimenez, “La lucha para independencia sigue.” Despues durante la tarde tres otros Independistas liberados hablaron: Alejandrina Torres, Alberto Rodriguez, y Luis Rosa.

San Juan, Puerto Rico – Demanding a halt to the repression of activists working for the independence of Puerto Rico, about 1000 people rallied at the Federal Courthouse here, Jan. 10. Protests took place in ten other cities including, Chicago, New York City and Los Angeles.

Fight Back News Service is reprinting the following article on the FBI murder of Puerto Rican freedom fighter Filiberto Ojeda Ríos. A longer version of this article first appeared in Red Banner - a journal for left, progressive and socialist students at the University of North Carolina, Asheville.

Chicago, IL – Ricardo Jimenez was the first newly freed Independista to speak to the 300 strong rally, welcoming home the patriots who were jailed for fighting against the U.S. colonization of Puerto Rico. Jimenez told the cheering crowd “the struggle for independence continues!”