Oscar López Rivera

About the Author

Oscar López Rivera is a Puerto Rican independence activist, former political prisoner, and author whose life and writings embody the unyielding spirit of resistance against oppression. Born in San Sebastián, Puerto Rico, in 1943, he moved to Chicago as a child and later served in the Vietnam War, experiences that profoundly shaped his commitment to social justice and decolonization. Imprisoned for 35 years on charges related to his involvement with the FALN, López Rivera became a symbol of endurance, enduring solitary confinement and torture while advocating for Puerto Rican sovereignty. Released in 2017, he continues to inspire through his reflections on resilience, identity, and the fight for freedom. In his memoir 'Oscar López Rivera: Between Torture and Resistance,' he chronicles the psychological and physical trials of incarceration, offering profound insights into the human capacity for defiance and hope in the face of systemic injustice.