This past Sunday in Washington, D.C., Puerto Ricans from the island and the mainland gathered in Lafayette Square across from the White House to ask President Barack Obama to commute the sentence of Oscar López Rivera. I was one of the many who attended the event, and the following are some of the photos I took (CREDIT: Mario Rubén Carrión, @mario_ruben_)
Luis Gutiérrez, U.S. congressman from Chicago, poses for pictures.
Melissa Mark-Viverito. Speaker of the New York City Council.
Numerous buses from New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey and even Chicago brought people to the rally in Washington D.C.
Rep. Luis Gutiérrez
Danny Rivera, Puerto Rican singer and songwriter.
Roy Brown, singer and songwriter.
The most popular sign at the rally.
René Perez, a.k.a Residente Calle 13, gave an impassioned speech on why Oscar Lopez Rivera should be free.
Mujeres por Oscar make their entrance.
Puerto Rican artist Antonio Martorell reads through messages for Oscar Lopez Rivera written on a blanket.