National Boricua Human Rights Network » Video

Carlos Alberto Torres is Free!

alejandro — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:21:10 +0000

On Monday, July 26, a group of more than 50 family members, friends, and supporters of Puerto Rican Political Prisoner Carlos Alberto Torres drove the grueling 3 1/2 hour drive from Chicago to Pekin, IL to be on hand as Carlos Alberto was released early that morning. Only his family was allowed to enter the prison parking lot and then made to wait inside the car. The 11 family members, along Jan Susler, his attorney, greeted Carlos with joyful embraces and loving arms, surrounded by the same Puerto Rican flags they were not allowed to take out of the car. They quickly drove to the nearby shopping mall where 40 people, including students from teh same school he co-founded, the Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School, members from the New England, New York and Chicago National Boricua Human Rights Network chapters, NY Assemblyman José Rivera, NY City Councilman Joel Rivera, NY City Councilwoman Melissa Mark Viverito as well as community members burst into a spontaneous rendition of “La Borinqueña” as he emerged from the van. After hugging and thanking each of the welcoming party and taking pictures, he returned to the van to return to Chicago, where the first thing he did was to visit his father’s grave and then his mother. Along with the family, he returned to Paseo Boricua for a private reception at La Estancia where supporters, friends and loved ones, were gathered. As he entered La Estancia, he was greeted by an honor guard was formed by many people who knew him before he went underground in 1976, greeted him. From there he was escorted by community youth, members of the Batey Urbano and youth from the Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School to the pubic event at La Casita de Don Pedro, where over 500 people awaited as he triumphantly entered La Casita. More details in the September issue of La Red.

More pictures here.

Cada guaraguao tiene su pitirre

miguel — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:08:17 +0000

Jornada 360 CAN-TV (video)

alejandro — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 03:27:42 +0000

Jornada 360 Events across the US and in Puerto Rico Huge Success! (Video Virtual Tour)

alejandro — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 22:10:22 +0000

Across the US and in Puerto Rico, over a dozen events attended by hundreds commemorated the 30th anniversary of the April 4th, 1980 arrests of the Puerto Rican political prisoners in Evanston, IL. In Chicago, the National Boricua Human Rights Network sponsored the Jornada 360 culminating event, which was preceeded by 15 days by the Cell Project, where 15 volunteers stayed for 24 hours in a 6 x 9 replica of an actual cell, installed at Cafe Batey Urbano. Begining the week before, volunteers and members of the Network began the laborous task of decorating the Batey Urbano with 30 years worth of campaign literature, posters, books and press clippings. Pictures of the Chicago prisoners and the event can be found at http://www.flickr.com/nbhrn.

The Saturday program began with a memorable series of reflections by former political prisoners Alicia Rodriguez, Luis Rosa and Ricardo Jiménez, all of whom spent 20 years in prison before being released by President Clinton in 1999 and the latter who had just been “freed” after spending 24 hours in the cell as the last of 15 volunteers. The entire audience joined in singing happy birthday to Ricardo, who received 3 birthday cakes! After a welcome and introduction by Network Co-cordinator Michelle Morales, the program proceeded with participants walking through the interactive exhibit, which included a historical montage of newsclippings and original pictures of the past 30 years including footage of the demonstration at Evanston police station on April 5, 1980 and a PSA produced last month calling on supporters to download and sign the letter to the parole commission on Carlos Alberto’s behalf. In addition, 20 people, including family and supporters of the campaign as well as some of the young people who were prisoners in the cell project, reflected on their experiences during the 30 years and re-voiced their commitment to free Carlos Alberto and Oscar. In a surprise presentation, compañera Irma Romero received a print of a Luis Rosa painting of Ramón Emeterio Betances, Michelle Morales received a framed silkscreen print of Lucecita Benitez painted by Oscar López as a fund-raiser of the 50th anniversary of Claridad and Jaime and Lucy Delgado and Alejandro Luis Molina received paintings of themselves by Oscar, all for their commitment to the campaign through the decades.

Help Bring Carlos Alberto Torres Home! Write a letter today! (video)

alejandro — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 16:07:50 +0000

The National Boricua Human Rights Network continues its campaign to meet and surpass the 10,000 letter (latest count 8,500) to the US Parole Commission in favor of Puerto Rican political prisoner Carlos Alberto Torres’ release later this year. The Network has just released a video explaining the background to the case. Please forward to your contacts and write a letter today and help bring Carlos Alberto Torres home! by way of recap, on January 19, 2010, Carlos Alberto Torres attended a video hearing presided over by a U.S. Parole Commission hearing examiner whose task was to consider the disciplinary charges stemming from last January, and to make a recommendation for what should happen with respect to his request to be released on parole. Carlos Alberto answered the questions posed, and his attorney Jan Susler asked that the Parole Commission release him on parole as previously recommended, regardless of the wrongful charges. She pointed out the vast, ongoing support for his release, and argued that there is absolutely no risk in releasing him, as evidenced by the impressive example of his compatriots who were released by presidential commutation in 1999. The hearing examiner then made a favorable recommendation. Download the letter here.

Legacies of Corretjer • Film by CAN-TV

miguel — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:40:19 +0000

National Boricua Human Rights Network (boricuahumanrights.org) hosts Legacies of Corretjer: Narratives of Resistance and Struggle. An evening commemorating the 1980 arrest and incarceration of 15 Puerto Rican political prisoners.

The evening includes reflections from ex-political prisoner Alicia Rodriguez, Grand Jury resister Tania Frontera, coordinator of the Puerto Rican Human Rights Committee Eduardo Villanueva and cultural performances by Orquestra Mapaye and SieteNueve

The event was held on April 4, 2008

This program was produced by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).

Crime Against Humanity • Film by CAN-TV

miguel — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:54:46 +0000

Crime Against Humanity sponsored by Public Square, filmed by CAN-TV.

Filiberto Ojeda Ríos Interview Part 4

miguel — Tue, 06 May 2008 05:13:24 +0000

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Filiberto Ojeda Ríos Interview Part 3

miguel — Tue, 06 May 2008 05:00:49 +0000

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Filiberto Ojeda Ríos Interview Part 2

miguel — Tue, 06 May 2008 04:51:56 +0000

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4