During the time that we had the opportunity to have a conversation with Oscar, we spoke about many topics and situations related to his experiences in life and in the struggle. We also spoke about some of his reflections of the present time. Here is my transcription of the notes taken during our conversation, which try to be as faithful as possible to his words. About each one of Oscar’s reflections it would be worthwhile for us to have a collective reflection as a people.

The founding of the National Hostosian Independence Movement (MINH) “Movimiento Independentista Nacional Hostosiano) on May 16, 2004 signified a rare and unusual event and highly uncommon. For the first time in decades of struggle, two pro-independence organizations united, and joined as one. The historical tendency had been the contrary: the division of forces.

On May 29, 2014, Puerto Rican communities across the Diaspora demonstrated in support of Oscar López Rivera’s freedom. Actions included a bike ride to the institutions he helped found, the naming of an affordable housing complex in his honor, and the presentation of 1,000 signatures calling for his release.

We, the undersigned citizens and civil society leaders of the nation of Barbados hereby declare our un-wavering solidarity with and support for OSCAR LOPEZ RIVERA, the heroic Puerto Rican independence activist who was unjustly convicted of the crime of "Seditious Conspiracy" in the Court system of the United States of America (USA) in 1981, and who has now been incarcerated as a de facto political prisoner in the Federal prison system of the USA for the past 33 years.