Performance For Oscar

On April 27th and 28th, I had the honor and privilege to welcome home former Puerto Rican political prisoner Oscar López Rivera in song at two events held in Boston and Worcester, MA. For his work towards the liberation of Puerto Rico, Oscar was imprisoned for 35 years, much of which was spent in solitary confinement, before President Obama commuted his sentence in January 2017. On May 17, 2017, he was released, and just recently, he visited the cities of Boston and Worcester as a part of a tour he is on, speaking about U.S. colonialism and the aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico. Read more about Oscar Lopez Rivera HERE.

For me, this moment was monumental. Throughout my activist life, I have worked on campaigns for various political prisoners, and the cases of our Puerto Rican political prisoners have always been close to my heart. I first witnessed the power of the people to effect change when President Clinton offered clemency to eleven Puerto Rican political prisoners in 1999. This was not just the act of a president, but a culmination of decades of tireless social justice organizing by Puerto Ricans. I have since met several of these former political prisoners, and become close friends with the incredible activist and artist Dylcia Pagan (who is being featured in my soon to be released documentary). The release of Oscar continues to demonstrate what is possible when we stay focused on the path towards freedom. In fact, this was amplified even more so when, on the day Oscar was visiting Boston, political prisoner Herman Bell was released from prison after almost 45 years behind bars. May this moment be the fuel we need to continue forward in the work to free all political prisoners, to end mass incarceration in the U.S., and to free Puerto Rico.

What do we want? FREEDOM! When do we want it? NOW!

Boston performance for Oscar López Rivera

Worcester talk by Oscar López Rivera and performance by Taina Asili