|
|
|
The ProLibertad Freedom Campaign
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| ProLibertad members marching in the Bronx!! |
ProLibertad Brochure
The ProLibertad Freedom Campaign is an
organization composed of individuals and organizations who work together on a broad and unitary basis, accepting differences
of ideological and political position, but sharing the responsibility to support the Puerto Rican political prisoners and
prisoners of war who have been imprisoned for their political convictions and activities in the cause of Puerto Rico's ongoing
struggle for independence and right to self-determination.
The ProLibertad Freedom Campaign has been
working for the release of the Puerto Rican Political Prisoners (PR/POWs) for over ten years. With the release of eleven of
the prisoners in September of 1999, we have redirected our efforts to securing the freedom of the remaining six prisoners.
Through a comprehensive regimen of public educational programs and events, ongoing lobbying efforts, public pressure work
and related initiatives like this web site and El Coqui Libre, ProLibertad's newsletter, it is out goal to secure the freedom
of these brave patriots whose only "crime" has been the unconditional love of their homeland, Puerto Rico. The ProLibertad
Freedom Campaign is an anti-imperialist and anti-colonial campaign that also supports the release of all U.S. political prisoners,
and completely opposes the United States' colonial control of Puerto Rico and its military presence in the Island municipality
of Vieques, and all Puerto Rico.
If you are interested in working
with The ProLibertad Freedom Campaign then check out our, Why should YOU join the campaign for the freedom of the Puerto
Rican Political Prisoners?
ProLibertad needs your financial support;
we can only do the work that we do with your help. Please send your tax deductible donation (check or money order endorsed
to IFCO/ProLibertad) and then mail it to:
IFCO/ProLibertad
418 W145th St.
New York, N.Y. 10031
|
|
|
|
| Free the Puerto Rican Political Prisoners!! |
Why should YOU join the campaign for the freedom of the Puerto Rican
Political Prisoners?
As responsible people, concerned with the situation in our community, in our country and in
other countries in the world, we have lifted our voices to protest many problems and injustices. We have protested the U.S.
military interventions throughout the world; we have demanded a stop to the clear cutting of our forests; we have demanded
adequate health services for those who have AIDS; we have fought against pollution in our communities; we have fought for
a sound education for our children; and we have protested against racism. Also we have written letters or sent telegrams to
foreign governments in support of people jailed unjustly, and protested human rights violations.
The president of the United States has the constitutional power to unconditionally pardon the
Puerto Rican political prisoners. The power that the Constitution gives him to pardon people who have acted or conspired against
the U.S. government has been used in the past to pardon, among others, confederate soldiers who were charged with treason
during the Civil War, socialists charged with organizing armed resistance to the draft during the First World War, and the
five Puerto Rican nationalists who were charged with shooting at the Blair House in Washington, DC. in 1950 and at the U.S.
Congress in 1954.
The time has come for us to publicly denounce the human rights violations committed against
those Puerto Ricans who have struggled for the independence of their country and to demand their unconditional amnesty. This
campaign is based in principles of justice that are important to all of us:
-
Self-determination is a basic right of all people;
-
The sentences imposed on the Puerto Rican political prisoners are excessive
and disproportionate;
-
The Puerto Rican political prisoners have been the objects of abusive prison conditions which
have violated their human rights;
-
The Puerto Rican political prisoners have served more time than is demanded of most prisoners,
including those who have been charged with murder.
Now is the time to unite our efforts to demand their unconditional
freedom! Many voices have cried out for the release of the Puerto Rican political prisoners and prisoners of war already.
A few examples of these voices include:
-
New York's former Mayor David Dinkins.
-
Religious groups and individuals who have called for freedom such as the 19th Synod of the
United Church of Christ; General Conference of the United Methodist Church; the Most Rev. Thomas J. Gumbleton, Auxiliary Bishop,
Archdiocese of Detroit; Right Reverend Paul Moore, Episcopal Diocese of New York; Esdras Rodriguez-Diaz, Associate General
Secretary of the General Commission on Religion and Race of the United Methodist Church; Cynthia Nozomi Ikuta, United Church
Board of Homeland Ministries; the Ecumenical Peace Institute/CALC of Berkeley, CA; and the Northern California Ecumenical
Conference of San Francisco, CA.
-
Legal and human rights organizations who have called for freedom such as Puerto Rico's Bar
Association; the president of the National Lawyers Guild; the coordinators of the National Conference of Black Lawyers; and
Roger Wareham, Vice-International General Secretary, International Association against Torture
Join the ProLibertad Freedom Campaign!!
For more information on our campaign
join our list serve:
ProLibertad-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or contact us at ProLibertad or call us at our Hotline ProLibertad Hotline:718-601-4751
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|