lopez rivera was released. today he joins us in our new york studio. oscar lopez rivera was born in san sebastian, puerto rico, and moved with his family to chicago when he was a boy. he was drafted into the army at age 18 and served in vietnam, for which he was awarded the bronze star. upon his return in 1967, he became a community organizer who fought for bilingual education, jobs, and better housing. during the 1970's and 1980's, he was a leader of the pro-independence group faln. forcesed liberation -- armed national liberation. its members set more than 100 bombs, including one attack on fraunces tavern in new york city that killed four people. he was never charged, however, with setting those bombs. instead, in 1981, lopez rivera was convicted on federal charges including seditious conspiracy -- conspiring to oppose u.s. authority over puerto rico by force. in fact, this is the same charge nelson mandela faced. lopez rivera described his charges in a rare prison interview in 2006. >> i think the fact i was charged with seditious conspiracy to overthrow

or rather a terrorist. >> and oscar lopez rivera has blood on his hands. w can you allow the circus to go on. this is outrageous. >> this is a look at the welcome party for oscar lopez rivera at the community college in the bronx. >> rivera is a founding member of the puerto rican group, terror group that committed about 120 bombings across the u.s. in the 1970s and 80s. this is when the first appearance where's he was released from prison in 35 years. this sunday will be her second when she appeared in the puerto rican day parade. they were originally set to receive the freedom hero award but after widespread boycott they decided to give the award to -- [inaudible]ghting for the independence of emotional. >> beside terrorism what did he do to fight for liberty? i would love to show my family and hug my brother and my mom. >> joseph connors father was killed in a bombing in 1975. the night he was supposed to celebrate his ninth birthday with his dad and he found out he was dead. after years of spreading the truth about fa l and, he tells me the day after th

juan: it was important that nunnally the contingent marching with oscar lopez rivera, many of the otherroups in the parade, the hispanic carpenters had pictures of oscar lopez rivera a were tearing as well. several of the other groups -- the participation in the parade was significantly lower, even on the side from previous years. i think part of the problem is the puerto rican community is smaller in new york city than it used to be. many of the other latino communities around the country have their own parades and the controversy did scare some people away. it it was still you're showing and sense of unity -- it was still an extraordinary showing and sense of unity. the parade committee chooses who the heroes are, not corporate america. i think that is key. amy: we will continue to cover what is happening in puerto rico, the bankruptcy. just tune in here to democracynow.org. when we come back, a fascinating two-part discussion from baltimore to renters around the country. what is their connection to the president of the united states? stay with us. ♪ [music break] amy: this is democra

robinson. ♪ jorge: el independentista puertorriqueÑo Óscar lopez rivera estÁ generando grandes debates a nuestro pueblo y manchen el nombre del pueblo de puerto rico. jorge: mÁs de este debate este domingo en "al punto" marÍa elena: el lider independentista Óscar lopez riviera, recientemente indultado por el presidente barack obama, no serÁ el prÓcer en new york. mÁs de la controversia que generÓ al desfile, considerado hÉroe para unos y terrorista para otros. reportera: no se sabe por certeza sÍ fue decisiÓn de oscar lÓpez riviera, a solo diez dÍas que se realice el desfile puertorriqueÑo, la noticia que no va a tener participaciÓn formal. estarÉ en la quinta avenida, no como homenajeado, sino como un humilde abuelo puertorriqueÑo, continuarÉ trabajando para real solver nuestros problemas, asÍ como nuestras diferencias. los organizadores del desfile que trae mÁs de dos millones anualmente tambiÉn dijeron que respetaban su decisiÓn. en las calles y en los restaurantes los puertorriqueÑos expresaban su opiniÓn. >> lo queremos como individuo, lo amamos como individuo, pero que no se use

in 1981 oscar lopez rivera was convicted of seditious conspiracy against the u.s. sives. he was sentenced to 70 years in prison, and he served 36 of those years. president obama commuted lopez rivera's sentence in january, but he was never charged with any specific violent crime. he was, though, a leader of the faln, and he was accused of being a bombmaker. the group's deadliest attack was a 1975 blast in new york city which killed four people including frank connor who was 33 at the time when he died in that last. his son, joe connor, spoke to us about how outraged he is. >> is he a hero? >> he's a hero to nobody. >> is he for freedom? >>. no oscar lopez wanted to enslave the puerto rican people into another cuba. ♪ ♪ >> reporter: now, the puerto rican day parade lost half of its corporate sponsors as a result of this decision. governor andrew cuomo of new york is not in this parade this year. the nypd police commissioner, james to o'neill, also boycotting this parade as well as hispanic police groups who are no longer here at this parade as a resulted of oscar lop

aside from being a terrorist, what did oscar lopez rivera do to push the independence of puerto rico?f puerto ricans have ever wanted independence, 70% will vote to become a state. i want them to explain what did lopez ever do to get an award for freedom if not being a terrorist? >> martha: he served this city in a very strong way and kept a lot of people safe, your hero to us. we thank you both for being here today. the court of the night when we come back. luckily there's powerful, 24-hour, non-drowsy claritin. it provides relief of symptoms that can be triggered by over 200 different allergens. live claritin clear. new carrabba's trios starting at only $14.99. choose one of three pastas... and we'll pair it with homemade lasagne and manicotti. that's three pastas on one plate! new trios starting at $14.99 won't last long! carrabba's. italian worth talking about. >> martha: before we go, in the wake of the election upset of the u.k., this from winston churchill as we head into the weekend. his wise as emperor inside, there are a terrible a lot of lies going about in the world of the

reportero: oscar lÓpez rivera, iba a ser homenajeado como hÉroe de la liberto nacional. >> el sÍmboloÁs, llegaron para, a ritmo de salsa, celebrar la herencia y cultura portorriqueÑa. >> representa diversidad, mucha inteligencia. reportero: bajo el lema de un pueblo, muchas voces, unas 100.000 personas, participaron en el evento, que este aÑo estuvo dedicado al municipio de hormiguero. >> fuimos los primeros en llegar, tenemos que mantener ese respeto. somos ciudadanos americanos y merecemos un mejor. reportero: santa rosa estuvo ahÍ, como otros grandes artistas. otro de los participantes fue la gran vedette puertorriqueÑa, iris. >> Éste es nuestro dÍa, celebrando la cultura de puerto rico con nuestra gente. reportero: se reÚnen para disfrutar de este evento, que es el mÁs grande en toda la naciÓn. y a pesar de tanta controversia, muchos llegaron de diferentes partes de estados unidos para decir "que viva puerto rico". presentadora: miles de personas participaron hoy en la marcha nacional por la unidad y el orgullo gay en 100 ciudades alrededor del paÍs. en washington, fue la marcha p

we spend the hour in studio with recently freed, longtime puerto rican independence activist oscar lopez rivera.

estuvo marcado por controversia, despuÉs de la decisiÓn por organizadores del f desfile de Óscar lopez rivera boricuas que dijeron que el dÍa de hoy no se tratÓ de la polÍtica. >> no se trata de estar, y celebrar la cultura, nuestra historia aquÍ en nueva york y nuestro vÍnculo con nuestra isla. >> la cultura hay que mantenerla viva hay que inculcarlo a sus hijos y nietos que vengan a la parada puertorriqueÑa todos los aÑos. >> cabe destacar que fue un enorme despliegue policial uniformados y en cubierto, pese a la controversia se celebrÓ en grande, en la ciudad de nueva york, noticias telemundo. >> precisamente sobre puerto rico hoy su ciudadanos acudieron a la urna para termideterminacÓ relaciÓn con los estados unidos en un tema que divide mÁs a sus habitantes, alberto r. nos cuenta mÁs. >> si se pregunta por quÉ tenemos a nuestras espaldas esta estampa es que el principal partido opositor convocÓ a sus seguidores a una fiesta playera para que no acudan a votar desde que se convirtiÓ en territorio de los estados unidos en 1898. >> nos referimos al partido popular democrÁtico, ellos promueve

honored in the parade but also released a statement saying they look forward to marching with oscar lopez riveraryone wants to be were a people. >> everyone. everyone including me. i don't want to be around terrorists. >> a terrorists. no hero. >> no what do you think? terrorist or freedom fighter? tweet me your thoughts on twitter and at this show chasing news. >> new york based nonprofit that teaches young adults how to row. >> yeah. row. >> how did you do? ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [tv background] [dad] hello? [woman] hello? wa [woman] hello! [parrot] hello! [dad] helllo! helllo! hello...hey...hello! it feels good to be recognized. hello! hi jake, this is bianca at td bank. how can i help? with td voiceprint, we know you simply by the sound of your voice. hi... wow i wasn't expecting...oh because no one has a voice quite like yours. don't just bank. bank human™. w...that not only made a a big first impression... ...but was designed to withstand sunlight this bright... ...this bright... ...or even this bright. if a paint could protect your door's color against the strongest uv rays... ...it makes you wonder...

oscar lopez rivera, a former member of a puerto rican nationalist group linked to deadly bombings in the 1970s and 80s. bi was released from prison lath month after president obama commuted his sentence for seditious conspiracy, many groups threatened to boycott the parade over plans to honor rivera. the parade kicked off as voters want to the polls in puerto rico to decide whether the u.s. territory should become the 51st state. roxana saberi reports. f reporter: for the fifth time in 50 years puerto ricans went to the polls on sunday to decide whether to become the 51st state of the united states, seek independence or keep the status quo. voter wanda cruz said statehood would be good for puerto rico, her kids and grandkids. puerto ricans have had u.s. citizenship for the past century but they don't pay federal taxes, vote for american presidents or receives much federal funding as u.s. states. the referendum comes as puerto rico's economy is crumbling. trllions of dollars in debt, the bankrupt island is struggling with failing schools and crushing poverty. nearly half a million pue

oscar lopez rivera will still march but he is declining an honorary title after some corporate sponsors, law-enforcement and local leaders pulled their support of this parade. rivera spent 55 years behind bars for acts of terrorism before president obama commuted his sentence. heather: donald trump said he put america first by pulling out of the paris climate accord and mainstream media and others had a big meltdown. here with more on the media's reaction is radio talkshow host ethan berman at fox news contributor and radio shows to tammy bruce. let's start with you. your initial reaction to all of the media's reaction yesterday because it was swift and some was pretty brutal. >> it has been perpetual outrage since even before the results of november. we are used to it. the problem for liberals and people who really wants to make a good point about things of which they disagree with the president on is that now they sound like charlie brown's teacher, we don't hear anything. everything is the end of the world, everything is armageddon, everything is going to be the sky falling down but

oscar lopez rivera, cheered and also booed while standing on his float in new york city, rivera whose terror group back in the 70's and 80's claimed responsibility for more than 100 bombings across the u.s. and including one in lower manhattan that killed four people was supposed to receive national freedom award. he just got the out of prison. this on the same day that puerto ricans overwhelming voted to become a 51st congress has the final say on whether or not that happens. real-life after play portrayed president trump being assassinated. robert gray is live in los angeles with the very latest, robert. >> hey, rob, heather, this clearly creating controversy with responsors pulling support. delta airlines and bank of america ending sponsorship of julius cÉsar. modern times sporting blond air and suit and has a slavic wife. ring a bell? the roman emperor is stabbed in the back and killed by friend and foes. bank of america said this was intend today provoke and offend adding if this intention had been known to the bank, it would not have sponsored. the graphic staging of julius cÉsa

oscar lopez rivera going down fifth avenue in a beautiful parade on a boat. a convicted terrorist. the mayor behind him even though there was a pressure for him to boycott this parade heated shop today as well. lopez rivera was one of the known leaders of a terrorist organization known as the armed forces of independence. it is a paramilitary group that is blamed for about 120 bombings across the nine states in the 70s and 80s. their goal was to gain independence for puerto rico as a socialist government. he was convicted of conspiracy against the u.s. government. the transportation of firearms and explosives. he was sentenced to 70 years in prison but he served 36 of that. he was never charged with any specific violent crime but as a leader he was accused of being a bomb maker. the deadliest bomb was the 1975 blast of the tavern in new york city which killed four people. including frank connor joe connor was absolutely outraged that new york city would allow this man to march down fifth avenue. let's listen. to think that oscar lopez would be considered a hero in the hero of freed

this oscar lopez rivera business needs to go away. not a hero to me. >> shannon: he was convicted in court. not telling a rumor about him. he spent 35 years in jail connected to a group that killed people. >> he did. bringing him out as a hero. i think it's dangerous. most hispanics aren't puerto rican. this is concerning this line of rhetoric. >> shannon: your take? >> it goes back to president obama. why did he commute the sentence of people like this and down the stretch bradley manning or whatever the name is. president obama like bill clinton at the end of his term. the pardons and commutations seem to be flowing for political reasons. there are four families of people who were killed. the other one i would say is lots of law enforcement had to try to catch and deal with the faln. it was a terrible thing. i think the whole thing is a disaster for the democrat party. let's say now hispanics aren't terrorists and let's agree the terrorists that are coming into this country through mexico and other places are generally islamic terro

oscar lopez rivera wrote a float today. it was a stunning image for the controversial figure who is a convicted terrace. he is one of the leaders of the fla and. a paramilitary group responsible for over 120 bomb attacks in the 70s and 80s. their goal is independence for puerto rico and two establishes socialist government there. he was convicted and 81 of conspiracy against the u.s. government, transporting firearms and explosives. his 70 year sentence was commuted by president obama in january. he was freed after 36 years. he was never charged with a specific violent crime, he was accused of being a bomb maker. the flan deadliest bombing was in 1975 in new york city. the blast killed four people including a 33-year-old frank connor, joe connors father. >> to think that oscar lopez would be considered a hero in a hero freedom, it is insane. you cannot even get your head around it. >> the puerto rican day. lost half of its float as a result of honoring lopez rivera. major corporate sponsors pulled out of the prey. new york

the parade organizers say they stand by and honoring oscar lopez rivera with the national freedom awardm here award.the first award they've ever given. and ultimately, they said quote - some people call me tervis while others think of him as a freedom fighter. as was the case with nelson mandela. nevertheless, oscars participation is not an endorsement of the history that led to his arrest nor any form of violence. but rather a recognition of a man and a nations struggle for sovereignty. also, organizers were criticized as well for allowing him to participate given the fact that it was going to take with the crises happening on the island today. they are in a big recession and today they are voting for the fifth time as to whether or not they want to make the stated territory or independent. >> thank you. let me know that joe connor has long for in the name of his father frank. he was only 33 years old when he was killed by that bomb in 1975. thank you brian. >> ml man in florida going above and beyond. risking his own life to help save another. we have this story coming up, next. [ toi

oscar lopez rivera will still be given the national freedom hero award.ept it. he spent more than 35 years behind bars before president obama communitied his sentence. >>> prisoners enjoying a get out of jail free system in houston. the u.s. supreme court ruling already allowed dozens of inmates to walk free, and the county jail is expected to release another 100 inmates this week. county officials plan to appeal the ruling next month. >>> and remember the texas democrat who starved hearse to protest a -- herself to protest a sanctuary cities ban? she just got busted for dui. she posted an apology online. take a look. >> i disappointed my family, my constituent, my supporters, i disappointed myself. i'm deeply sorry. >> a dallas police officer arresting the lawmaker after she crashed her bmw into a tree. the cop says she was uncooperative but told him, quote, i love you and i will fight for you. that's a look for your headlines on this thursday. steve steve thank you very much, gillian. brian: it's one of the campaign promises that got him elected. presid

oscar lopez rivera still march declining corporate title after law enforcement local leaders pulled theirthan 35 years behind bars before president obama commuted his sentence. that's a look at your headlines on this friday. time to go outside though where janice dean has literally the best job in the world today. [cheers] janice: guess what? i have a great crowd. scotty mccreery is going to be performing for other summer concert series. guess what? it is national doughnut day. thank you krispy kreme donuts. what's your name where are you from. >> tracy from louisiana. janice: i heard you were more excited about the krispy kreme donuts than you were to meet scotty mccreery. >> absolutely. >> where are you from. >> pennsylvania. >> did you bring a crew with you? >> right here. [cheers and applause] janice: do you guys like donuts? >> yep. janice: take one and pass it around my friends. national doughnut day. all day long. wave to everybody at home. [cheers] janice: back inside. i will bring you donuts. abby: how are we the only ones without donuts. i love krispy kreme. favorite doughnut of

. >>> new york city mayor bill de blasio announcing that the newly-released terror leader, oscar lopez rivera puerto rican day parade. he will still, however, march in the event. rivera, considered a top leader of the faln -- that's a puerto rican terror group. it was responsible for over 100 bombings in america during the '70s and '80s. joe connor is with us. his father, frank, was killed in one of the most well-known bombings in new york city. joe, welcome to the program. >> thank you, stuart. thanks for having me. stuart: now, he has not accepted the honor, but he will march. your take. >> my take is why is he still being given the honor? we're in a position now where lopez is turning down a freedom hero award or some insanity like that and turning it down. not the politicians saying, you know what? he's not worthy of this, he's a terrorist, he shouldn't be marching, he shouldn't be there. they are not pulling the award from him. he is showing an incredibly more integrity, if you will, than the -- [inaudible] the mayor de blasios and the luis gutierrezs of the world. stuart: now, how do yo

oscar lopez rivera cheered and booed while being honored at new york's puerto rico can day parade.oss the u.s. this as primary care cans overwhelmingly voted to become the 51st state. congress has the final say on whether that happens. ainsley? ainsley: thanks, jillian. outrage over new york city play paid for in part by your tax dollars. laura shaffer of am 970 the answer, the radio show, saw this year's shakespeare in the park and she joins us now to talk about it laura, what did you see julia caesar a shakespeare production. what surprised you? >> i was expecting it to be a classic rendition of julius caesar. the stage was set very modern and american. classic images in the background. i knew it was going to be different. of course we know julius caesar character as the lead, when that character was brought forth and it was donald trump, i mean, they didn't specifically say it, but his hair, blond, reddish, had the tie tied too long. he was obviously the leader. knowing where that was going, i was appalled, appalled. because you know then that the character is assassinated midwa

oscar rivera lopez terror group claimed responsibility for more than 100 bombings across the united statess puerto ricans head to the polls today deciding whether they want their struggling u.s. territory to become the 51st u.s. state. they always vote no. sandra: there you have it. hundreds of people across the country protesting sharia law yesterday. the mainstream media made it all about islam. >> the clashes erupting into brawls here at home over islam. >> protesters and counter protesters squaring off across the country tonight either against the threat of islamic law or in defense of muslim americans. >> activists say anti-sharia groups promote a distorted view of islam. sandra: protest against sharia law but it did become all about islam. this something, pete that have you dived right into. pete: we knew predictably the mainstream media would as such. rally in new york city. i hit the streets to talk to the folks who were there. asked them why are you here? what are you doing exercising your first amendment right? what's this all about. this is what they had to say. >> today there i

oscar rivera national hero. despite the fact that he led a terror group responsible for over 100 deadly bombings across the country and just days after lopez take on the parade's controversial decision is retired nypd detective and survivor an faln new year's eve bombing. anthony sent. thank you for being here this morning. describe this group faln and what they do. >> bottom line with them they are just simply terrorists. they are looking for independence for puerto rico when, the fact is that they have put the vote on a referendum three or four times and hard working good people from puerto rico keep on voting it down. pete: if in the 70's and 80's they had hundreds of bombings that harmed people including you. >> rendered a bomb on new year's eve and it blew. we remember the noise and severely injured both of us and uniformed man that lost a leg that evening, too. pete: one of five potential bombs on new year's eve. think about that in the culture we live in with radical islamic terrorism that would be front page news, no doubt. here we are this many years later and new york city wants to honor this man. why would they want to do that?