On Saturday, July 6, a group of almost 50 friends and sympathizers of Puerto Rican independence and self-determination gathered at WEPA Mart in Barrio Borikén to honor Dylcia Pagán, a former Puerto Rican political prisoner, who passed away on Sunday, June 30.
Dylcia, along with Alejandrina Torres, Carmen Valentin, Ida Luz and Alicia Rodriguez, Haydee Beltrán, Elizam Escobar (deceased), Carlos Alberto Torres, Luis Rosa, Adolfo Matos Antongiorgi, Edwin Cortés, Alberto Rodríguez and Oscar López Rivera were arrested in 1980 and 1983 and found guilty of seditious conspiracy. Another prisoner arrested in 1980, Alfredo Méndez, turned State’s evidence in 1981.
Among those who attended and spoke were attorney Michael Deutsch, attorney for the Puerto Rican Nationalists- Andrés Figueroa Cordero, Lolita Lebrón, Oscar Collazo, Rafael Cancel Miranda, and Irving Flores, who served 25 years in federal prisons and whose sentence was commuted by President Carter in 1979. Dr. Laura Ruth Johnson, who became part of the PRCC’s Family Learning Center program in 1993 quickly integrated herself into all facets of our work, especially the campaign to free the Puerto Rican Political Prisoners. She befriended all of the women political prisoners who were imprisoned at Pleasanton Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, CA. Former political prisoners Ricardo Jiménez and Edwin Cortes were also present.
Oscar López Rivera also spoke movingly about Dylcia, her involvement with the prisoners, and how she always said ¡Presente! in the face of adversity. Oscar’s daughter, Clarisa, also recited poetry, and they received prolonged applause. Other long-time activists, such as PRCC Board President Margaret and her sister, attorney Melinda Power, Howie Emmer, and attorney Erica Thompson, also attended. Attorney Jan Susler sent a solidarity message.
José E. López, Executive Director of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, placed the passing of Dylcia in the context of the struggle for Puerto Rican independence and more specifically, of the various campaigns to free generations of political prisoners.
