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1998

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Repression & Widerstand

FORWARDED MESSAGEFrom: Denise Alvarado boricua@wco.com

From: SPG tank@xs4all.nl
Date: 10 Feb 1998 08:47:27 +0100

Dear Human Rights Supporter,

On Thursday, February 5, 1998, prison authorities at USP Lewisburg placed Alberto Rodriguez, a Puerto Rican political prisoner, in isolation without explanation. According to information received from prisoners inside USP Lewisburg, by the National Committee to Free Puerto Rican Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War, the Latino prisoners were petitioning that the administration add a Spanish TV Network to the channels available to them through their closed circuit cable TV system.

The administration singled out Edwin Cortés, also a Puerto Rican political prisoner, to be responsible for organizing the petition. They claimed that since he had too much influence over the prisoners he must be the one organizing the petition. They brought him in and threatened him with punitive measures if the petition continued. Alberto Rodriguez upon hearing of the way the authorities dealt with Edwin wrote a letter to the warden characterizing the administration's harassment of Edwin Cortés as "stupid". Later that day guards came to Alberto and with no explanation placed him in complete isolation.

This account clearly demonstrates petty and abusive behavior against the prisoners involved. Latino prisoners have the right to petition to have a Spanish network in their cable programing.

What can you do: Write a letter to the Warden of USP Lewisburg.

Warden, USP Lewisburg, PO Box 1000, Lewisburg, PA 17863

In that letter demand that Alberto Rodriguez be returned to general population immediately. Also state that you join the Latino prisoners of USP Lewisburg in petition to have access to a Spanish TV Network such as Telemundo or Univision.

Thank you. Also, we are currently asking people to support the campaign to free Puerto Rican political prisoners by writing personal letters to President Clinton asking him to release the 15 Puerto Rican political prisoners. Letters should be mailed to:

President Bill Clinton, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington DC 20502

For more information on Puerto Rican political prisoners visit our website at: http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/5919/

Thank you, Marcos.