On Sunday, May 20th, the National Boricua Human Rights Network (NBHRN) led the Humboldt Park contingent downtown to the protest organized by the Coalition Against NATO and the G8 (CANG8). The Coalition organized a march of over 15,000 to demonstrate against the NATO summit. Over 60 people met at Batey Urbano with flags, noisemakers, buttons, signs and Oscar t-shirts and marched to the Division Blue Line station. After arriving downtown the Humboldt Park contingent marched to the Grant Park rally, where Michelle Morales, NBHRN co-coordinator gave a rousing speech on Oscar López Rivera and our solidarity work.
The NBHRN and their supporters marched alongside the Palestinians and other Arabs peoples, Filipinos and the CANG8 Palestine Solidarity Working Group as well as the Committee to Stop FBI Repression, the Committee Against Political Repression, and the Coalition to Protect People’s Rights.
Following is Oscar’s message to the participants of the protest: “Greetings with much love and respect to all of you who dare to protest and struggle against the G-8 and NATO. They are the forces that represent hatred, fear, corruption, havoc, wars, exploitation and oppression. What they have done and continue doing in countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Palestine and Egypt clearly represent what they are capable of doing in order perpetuate their control and hegemony. You, on the other hand, represent love, hope, compassion and courage. As long as you don’t allow them to stop you, you can stop them. A better and more just world is possible. Let’s dare to struggle to make it a reality. Dare to struggle and dare to win. En resistencia y lucha, OLR.”
View the video of Michelle Morales, Network co-coordinator, greeting the crowd here.