[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 143 (Wednesday, September 21, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H5716]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        FREE OSCAR LOPEZ RIVERA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, I visited four cities 
in four States to meet with Puerto Rican elected officials, leaders, 
and members of the Puerto Rican diaspora about a very important 
campaign.
  I was in Hartford, Connecticut; Springfield and Holyoke, 
Massachusetts; New York, New York; and Newark, New Jersey, for 
activities, parades, and discussions that were very successful. This 
week, I will be back in Chicago with my fellow Puerto Ricans at the 
National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture to honor the 
organization and to recognize the talent and cultural contributions of 
Antonio Martorell and Lin-Manuel Miranda, who make us all proud.
  But I am not traveling on a campaign for President or for a political 
candidate. Rather, I am meeting with people all over about a campaign 
for the current President to take action before he leaves office in 
January to free Oscar Lopez Rivera, the last political prisoner from 
Puerto Rico, who has been held for 35 years in an American prison.
  No one disputes that the President of the United States has the power 
to grant pardons, commute sentences, and grant clemency. It is a power 
the President alone possesses as our chief executive. Congress and the 
courts can do nothing to override him in this case.
  Puerto Ricans and allies all over the world are asking the President 
to grant clemency to Oscar Lopez Rivera. He was not convicted of 
committing a violent crime. Rather, he was convicted of seditious 
conspiracy, espousing the belief that the people of Puerto Rico are 
capable of, entitled to, and have the right to self-determination and 
freedom.
  This man, Oscar Lopez Rivera, who is now in his seventies and has 
spent half of his life in prison, is no threat to the United States or 
Puerto Rico. He harbors no nefarious plot to harm anyone. He is simply 
a man who served an inordinate sentence for the crime for which he was 
convicted. And now Puerto Ricans want their elder statesman to live out 
his days in Puerto Rico. In fact, Mr. Speaker, there are few issues 
that unite the Puerto Rican people more than the united front that is 
assembling to call for the release of Oscar Lopez Rivera.
  Hundreds have already pledged to join us on October 9 in Lafayette 
Park in Washington, D.C., to make our unity and our commitment known. I 
know from my own experience that all too often Puerto Ricans are 
divided from each other along so many lines of politics, class, and 
geography. But in this case, in this cause, in the united call, Puerto 
Ricans are united as never before.
  The House and the Senate of the island's legislature, all the 
candidates for Governor and major office, current and past elected 
officials, city councils and municipal governments across the island, 
from San Juan to the smallest villages, support the release of Oscar 
Lopez Rivera--across party lines, across lines that often separate 
statehood advocates and independence and commonwealth advocates. 
Practically every bishop, every denomination, every congregation, 
parish, and church--almost the entire faith community on the island--
has called for Oscar's release.
  It is not just a Puerto Rican thing, Mr. Speaker. It is a movement 
that has sparked followers across the United States as well. The AFL-
CIO, AFSCME, SEIU, Communications Workers of America, and other allies 
in the labor movement are standing up for justice and standing up for 
the release of Oscar Lopez Rivera.
  The ACLU, the Hispanic National Bar Association, and religious 
leaders of all stripes are onboard. The City Council of New York City 
and the Newark, New Jersey Municipal Council passed resolutions. My 
friends and colleagues on the Congressional Hispanic Caucus here in 
Congress have joined us in the call for Oscar Lopez Rivera to be 
released. I thank the members of the Hispanic Caucus.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, Oscar Lopez Rivera's case and the call for him 
to be released has received international attention and validation. 
Presidents, Nobel laureates, leaders, artists, activists, and the world 
over, know it is time to let Oscar return in peace to his island.
  Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Archbishop Emeritus of the Anglican 
Church in Cape Town, a true champion of justice across the globe, has 
expressed his unwavering support for the release of this prisoner.
  Mr. Speaker, based on the merits of this case, the outpouring of 
support, and the moral obligation and power that has been placed in his 
hands, I join freedom fighters, justice lovers, Puerto Ricans, and 
individuals across the globe in asking President Obama to use his pen 
to free Oscar Lopez Rivera.
  Please join us in Washington, D.C., on October 9 in Lafayette Park 
and let your voice be heard.

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