Join fight to free Oscar López!

Support for the fight to free Puerto Rican independence fighter Oscar López is growing, in Puerto Rico, the U.S., and revolutionary Cuba. It deserves the active support of workers, farmers and youth in the U.S. and around the world. López was framed up on conspiracy charges for opposing Washington’s colonial occupation and oppression of the people of Puerto Rico. His dignity and determination during 35 years in U.S. prisons have inspired growing solidarity and strengthened his resolve to continue to fight for independence for Puerto Rico.

The attacks on workers by the “fiscal control board” — imposed by the propertied ruling class in the U.S. to guarantee payment to bondholders on the backs of workers — have shined a spotlight on Puerto Rico’s colonial status and fuel the fight to demand President Barack Obama pardon López before he leaves office.

Workers worldwide have seen the weeklong mass outpouring of working people of all generations in Cuba to salute the life of Fidel Castro and rededicate themselves to advancing and defending their revolution. This reinforces and gives momentum to the demand for a pardon. At the same time, Cuba’s revolutionary government and people are stepping up their efforts to advance the fight for Oscar’s release.

“For those of us who love justice and freedom, want a better and more just world free of colonialism and imperialism, revolutionary Cuba has been and will continue to be a beacon of hope and an example to emulate,” López has said.

Cuban heroes Fernando González and Gerardo Hernández — two of the Cuban Five who served years in U.S. jails for defending the Cuban Revolution against counterrevolutionary aggression condoned by Washington — joined a recent meeting in Havana to build the fight to free López. The international campaign that over 16 years made the case of the Cuban Five widely known and won their freedom shows that victory is possible for López and others.

We should add to the signatures, already totaling more than 106,000, on the White House petition to free Oscar López. Organize and join activities in your area to put pressure on the administration. If Obama doesn’t pardon López, this fight will continue and gain strength until the day it forces open the prison gates and Oscar walks free.

The international fight also helps defend his right to be politically active as long as he remains behind bars.

“The people of Puerto Rico and working people in the U.S. have common interests, a common enemy, a common struggle,” said Socialist Workers Party leader Alyson Kennedy at the hearing of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization in June.

End U.S. colonial oppression! Independence for Puerto Rico!

Join the fight to free Oscar López!

Related articles:
Sign the petition to free Oscar López!
Fight to free Oscar López is gaining broad support

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