Posted on 02/23/2017 12:21:43 PM PST by PBRCat
Before his 70-year sentence was commuted in the waning days of the Barack Obama administration, Lopez spent 35 years of his life in federal prisons for his role as a leader in the militant Puerto Rican nationalist group FALN.
The group claimed responsibility for dozens of bombings across the U.S during the 1970s, including here in Chicago, although Lopez’s supporters argue he was never convicted of personally hurting anyone.
The designation for the three-block stretch of North Luis Munoz Marin Drive was championed by Ald. Roberto Maldonado (26th), who worked the floor prior to the vote. Even with that lobbying, nine aldermen voted no. Most represented wards populated heavily by police officers.
The designation infuriated Joe Connor, whose father was killed at a New York City restaurant bombing for which the militant Puerto Rican nationalist group FALN claimed responsibility.
“He is a sworn terrorist. . . . He was convicted of bombings in Chicago that did injure people. . . . And Chicago is gonna put up a sign in his honor?” said Connor, who was just nine years old when his father, Frank, was killed.
“The idea that people will walk by and see this street sign and think that Oscar Lopez was some sort of great person — it’s diabolical. The world is upside down here. What’s next for Chicago, bin Laden Boulevard? Charles Manson Court?”
(Excerpt) Read more at chicago.suntimes.com ...
The people of Puerto Rico want American subsidies and have repeatedly voted to maintain the status quo. In effect, the FALN terrorists have been promoting a revolution that the majority of their people do not want for financial reasons.
Half a block past the intersection of Bin Laden Way and Carlos the Jackal Avenue.
Depends on where you are. In Chiraq, the behavior of Oscar Lopez makes him a hero.
It never really had anything to do with Puerto Rican nationalism.
This was a Soviet-communist front op from the beginning.
In a way, this all is the zombie-fallout effect of ancient Soviet-directed subversion programs. The mechanisms the Soviets created continued to operate long after their creators died and their purpose was forgotten.
Its a rather Science-fictional idea, which reminds me of Saberhagens Berserkers, or Benfords Mechs - swarms of uncontrolled, self-replicating AI war machines left behind by their vanished creators, with no purpose left but to destroy all life.
“The world is upside down here.”
Welcome to the world of leftists where everything is upside down...and people elect them into office.
Chicago really does not have too many free elections. The candidates are selected by the Machine and many run without meaningful opponents. Ballot access is complicated in Illinois and the incumbents often run unopposed.
Indeed, the support and financing was provided by Castro. The FALN was fond of waving the Soviet red flag too.
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