Oscar López Rivera Meets with University Students Autor: Juventud Rebelde Publicado: 20/11/2017 | 03:23 pm
Three flags: Cuba’s , Puerto Rico’s and that of the University of Havana, were together as one at the Aula Magna of that educational center, where dozens of young students talked to the pro-independence fighter Oscar López Rivera and expressed their solidarity with the struggle of his people, submitted to an unfair colonialism for 119 years.
The Puerto Rican friend arrived with energy, enthusiasm and strengths, which the almost 36 years served in a US prison could not take away from him. “I am very happy of being here with all of you”, were his first words, with that characteristic simplicity of him.
“The youth is the future of every people, the driving force which has achieved so many for this society. When I look at all of you, I see the very best of this society”, he said without hesitation. Then he spoke about the stark contrast between the Cuban universities and those of his country, where many students can not have access to them due to the expensive tuition fees.
“Over there, the university is on the decline, an extension of politicking”, stressed López Rivera, who went on to say that in those centers “the pro-independence teachers have little chances of staying there, since the government only grants the post for those belonging to their Party.”
How do you resist in jail? What has kept you fighting for so long? How was your friendship forged with Fernando González Llort, one of our Five Heroes? What is your perception of the situation in Puerto Rico? What does the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution mean to you?
Were some of the questions the youth asked López Rivera, which allowed him to talk about the conscience of men, their capacity to rise up against injustice, the depth of human dignity, the economy and capitalism and about a man like Fidel who “bequeathed us an example of resistance and struggle.”
As a coda for the exchange, the first secretary of the UJC National Committee Susely Morfa González awarded López Rivera the 55th Anniversary Commemorative Coin of the youth organization. Such a distinction recognizes in him the man that continued to defend the pro-independence principles of his people and of the world. Young artists Eduardo Sosa and Annie Garcés dedicated songs for him and the attendants choired with them: Gracias a la vida!
Rector of the University of Havana Gustavo Cobreiro Suárez, and the Hero of the Republic of Cuba Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, among other guests, accompanied the Puerto Rican brother in this act, which filled him with hope, optimism and confidence” and who thanked the youth for infecting him with their “spirit and maturity”. He said he would return to Puerto Rico “stronger to keep fighting for independence and also for the noble causes of the world.”
Translated by ESTI
