Still in the air, dancing in the aisles: Just in from sister Jan Susler:
We are thrilled to announce that today President Obama made the wise and just decision to grant unconditional executive clemency to Puerto Rican political prisoner Oscar López Rivera, who served 35 years in U.S. prison.
Heeding the will of the Puerto Rican people, who spoke from the Island and the diaspora in one, united voice; Pope Francis; Jimmy Carter; Nobel Peace Prize Laureates such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu; the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, SEIU; the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda; René Pérez, Lin Manuel Miranda; much of Latin America; and millions of other voices, the president has granted an unconditional commutation which will result in Mr. López Rivera’s release no later than 120 days from now, or May 17. Details will follow.
Oscar is grateful for all the love and solidarity – in Puerto Rico, in the United States, and throughout the world – that made this happen.
Contacts:
Melissa Mark Viverito, Speaker of the New York City Council, 646 538 4303
Luis Gutiérrez, Member of U.S. Congress, 202 604 2752
Carmen Yulín Cruz, Mayor of San Juan, 787 943 4455
Jan Susler, Attorney for Oscar López Rivera, 773 252 4049
Alejandro Molina, Coordinator of National Boricua Human Rights Network 312 296 7210
Bill Ayers 