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Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Oscar Lopez Rivera, the Puerto Rican nationalist released after 35 years


Oscar Lopez Rivera, the Puerto Rican nationalist and one of the longest-serving political prisoners in US history, has been released from house arrest in Puerto Rico.
Lopez Rivera was sentenced to 55 years in prison in 1981 for his involvement with FALN, a Puerto Rican group that claimed responsibility for dozens of bombings in New York, Chicago, Washington and Puerto Rico in the 1970s and 1980s. He was never tied to specific bombings, which caused few injuries.
Thousands of supporters are expected to cheer Lopez Rivera's release later on Wednesday May 17,2017 at a celebration in Puerto Rico.
In 1999, US President Bill Clinton offered Lopez clemency, but he rejected the offer because it excluded two associates who have since been released.
Along with Chelsea Manning, who is also set to be released on Wednesday May 17,2017, Lopez Rivera was among 209 commutations granted by Obama.
After Obama's order, Lopez Rivera was released from prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, and arrived in Puerto Rico to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
He has been staying with his daughter at her home in the capital of San Juan.

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