The spiritcide of Óscar López Rivera: a symbol of resistance for the nonviolent social movement in Puerto Rico

Abstract

The following article serves as a summary of a Master’s Degree thesis whose main purpose was to introduce Óscar López Rivera as a prominent figure of the contemporary Peace Culture studies; in turn, this will take the claims for López Rivera’s release to every corner of the world, starting with the spanish community. Following a walk through the colonial History of the island of Puerto Rico and the life of López Rivera as a fierce defensor of the cause for the Caribbean territory’s independence, an analysis of the discourse will present the political prisoner as a symbol of resistance for the nonviolent movement in the Island. The vindication of Óscar López Rivera will be demonstrated through the analysis of newspaper articles, letters written by the social activists, as well as an autobiographical text titled Between torture and resistance. We will observe how the fight for Óscar López’s liberation has helped unite Puerto Rican community under one cause, putting aside political and religious ideologies. At the beginning of this year (2017), before ending his term in office, president Barack Obama commuted the 70 years sentence of this national hero who will be sitting next to the sea once more, after 36 years in prison. Óscar López Rivera’s official release on May 20th will validate the struggle of a people that has resisted the North American empire.