Lilian Tintori will hold a press conference at MDC
Miami, Sept. 23, 2016 – Miami Dade College (MDC) will present Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez’s book Preso pero Libre (Imprisioned but Free) on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 6 p.m. Prior to the book presentation, Lilian Tintori, wife of the jailed opposition leader, will hold press conference at 4 p.m., room 6100, at MDC’s Wolfson Campus in downtown Miami.
Preso pero Libre details the national tragedy overcoming Venezuela, and the great lessons Leopoldo Lopez has leaned while imprisoned from fellow prisoners and his abusive keepers. Lopez was sentenced to almost 14 years in jail last year for allegedly inciting violence during the protests against Nicolas Maduro’s government in 2014, which took the lives of more than 40 Venezuelans. Lopez has repeatedly denied the charges. His illegal arrest and the abusive and twisted process designed and staged by the Government of Venezuela to keep him in jail have astounded civic organizations throughout the world as well as human rights watchdogs in the Americas and beyond. Amnesty International bestowed upon Lopez a prisoner of conscience status.
Lopez’s cause has been supported by many former presidents and head of states including former Prime Ministers of Spain Jose Maria Aznar and Felipe Gonzalez; former Colombian Presidents Andres Pastrana and Álvaro Uribe; former Bolivia President Jorge Quiroga; former Chile President Sebastian Piñera. Desmond Tutu and Oscar Arias recipients of the Nobel Peace Award have also demanded Lopez’s freedom.
City of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado will present the book. The program also includes remarks from Jose Miguel Vivanco, executive director of the Americas at Human Rights Watch, political and social activist Carlos Vecchio, Lilian Tintori, Carlos Alberto Montaner who will present the Francisco de Miranda Award to Antonieta Mendoza, Leopoldo Lopez’s mother. The event will also include a performance by internationally acclaimed pianist Roberto Berrocal.
The book launch is in partnership with Demos Foundation, International Solidarity for Human Rights, the Interamerican Institute for Democracy, and the Latin American Herald Tribune.
For more information, please contact Sara Hanna, avila-87@hushmail.com; 786-296-6849
WHAT: MDC Presents Leopoldo Lopez Book Preso pero Libre
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 29, at 4 p.m., press conference; at 6 p.m., book presentation
WHERE: MDC’s Wolfson Campus
Press Conference, room 6100
Book Presentation, MDC’s Auditorium, room 1260
300 N.E. Second Avenue.