Vol. 79/No. 20      June 1, 2015

López, 72, was born in Puerto Rico, a U.S. colony since it was invaded in 1898. His family moved to Chicago when he was 14. He was drafted into the army in 1965 and served as an infantryman in the U.S. war against Vietnam.

When he returned to Chicago, López became active in struggles opposing discrimination against Puerto Ricans and against police brutality. He was won to support for independence for Puerto Rico.

In 1980, 11 people were arrested and accused of belonging to the Armed Forces of National Liberation (FALN), a group that claimed responsibility for bombings at banks and businesses with investments in Puerto Rico. López, accused of being a leader of the group, was arrested on May 29 the next year, and framed up along with the others, convicted of “seditious conspiracy” and other charges and sentenced to 55 years in prison. In February 1988 he was framed up again on charges of conspiracy to escape and sentenced to 15 additional years. In February 2011 the U.S. Parole Commission denied López parole, ruling he cannot reapply for 15 years.

Support for his release is widespread among working people in Puerto Rico, and has won the backing of the governor, 15 mayors and 22 municipalities.

Supporters of the fight to free López are organizing actions May 30 in New York and May 29 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to mark the 34th anniversary of his arrest.

— BRIAN WILLIAMS