Miami, Sept. 6, 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., at MDC’s Wolfson Campus in downtown Miami. Preso pero Libre details the national tragedy overcoming Venezuela, and the great lessons Lopez has leaned while imprisoned from fellow prisoners and his abusive keepers.
Leopoldo 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 Colombia President 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.
The program includes remarks from Jose Miguel Vivanco, Director of Latin America, Human Rights Watch, Lilian Tintori, wife of the jailed Venezuelan opposition leader, and Carlos Alberto Montaner will present the Francisco de Miranda Award to Antonieta Mendoza, Leopoldo Lopez’s mother, among other activities.
The book launch is in partnership with Demos Foundation, International Solidarity for Human Rights, the Inter American Institute for Democracy and the Advertisement Agency Knights and Pawns.
Parking is available at the MDC garage located on 5th St NE between 1st and 2nd Avenue. The entrance is across the Fire Station.