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{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2012}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2012}}
{{family name hatnote|Valentín|Pérez|lang=Spanish}}
{{family name hatnote|Valentín|Pérez|lang=Spanish}}

'''Carmen Hilda Valentín Pérez''' [[Puerto Rican people|Puerto Rican]] member of the [[Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional Puertorriqueña|FALN]] (a Pro-Independence group which fought for Puerto Rico's Independence from the United States during the 1970s) who received a sentence of 90 years for [[seditious conspiracy]] and other charges. She was sentenced on February 18, 1981, and incarcerated in a U.S. federal prison. However, she was released early from prison, after President [[Bill Clinton]] extended a clemency offer to her on September 7, 1999.<ref name="nytimes.com">[https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/08/us/12-imprisoned-puerto-ricans-accept-clemency-conditions.html?pagewanted=1 "12 Imprisoned Puerto Ricans Accept Clemency Conditions"] by John M. Broder. ''The New York Times'' September 8, 1999</ref>
'''Carmen Hilda Valentín Pérez''' (born March 2, 1946) is a former member of the [[Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional Puertorriqueña|FALN]], an armed clandestine group which fought for [[Puerto Rican independence]] from the United States during the 1970s and 1980s. She was arrested and charged in 1980 for [[seditious conspiracy]] and other charges and was sentenced on February 18, 1981, to 90 years imprisonment. She was incarcerated in a U.S. federal prison and released early from prison after President [[Bill Clinton]] extended a clemency offer to her on September 7, 1999.<ref name="nytimes.com">[https://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/08/us/12-imprisoned-puerto-ricans-accept-clemency-conditions.html?pagewanted=1 "12 Imprisoned Puerto Ricans Accept Clemency Conditions"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922100952/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/08/us/12-imprisoned-puerto-ricans-accept-clemency-conditions.html?pagewanted=1 |date=September 22, 2017 }} by John M. Broder. ''The New York Times'' September 8, 1999</ref>


==Early years==
==Early years==
Carmen Valentín Pérez was born in [[Camuy, Puerto Rico]], on March 2, 1946 and emigrated with her family to the U.S. when she was 10 years old. She graduated from Providence/St.Mel High School in 1965, and received a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from [[Northeastern Illinois University]] and a [[Master of Arts|Masters of Arts]] in Counselling from [[Roosevelt University]]. At the time of her arrest by the U.S. Government on seditious conspiracy charges was completing her Doctorate from Loyola University in Chicago.
Carmen Valentín Pérez was born in [[Camuy, Puerto Rico]], on March 2, 1946, and emigrated with her family to the U.S. when she was 10 years old. She graduated from [[Providence St. Mel School]] in 1965, and received a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from [[Northeastern Illinois University]] and a [[Master of Arts|Masters of Arts]] in Counselling from [[Roosevelt University]].<ref name="boricuahumanrights.org" /> At the time of her arrest by the U.S. Government on seditious conspiracy charges, she was completing her Doctorate from [[Loyola University in Chicago]].{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}


==Professional career==
==Professional career==


===Teaching===
===Teaching===
Valentín Pérez became active {{when|date=December 2011}} in the community as a young teacher at Tuley High School/Roberto Clemente High School, where she fought against racism and an educational curriculum based on ignorance of the Puerto Rican reality. While working as a teacher Valentín Pérez came into conflict with the Board of Education because the school was in the midst of a crisis brought about by a racist principal and the lack of a relevant curriculum for Puerto Rican students. The community with the help of Ms. Valentin and other community leaders forced the Chicago Board of Education to transfer the principal, Herbert Fink and introduced Puerto Rican history and culture in the school's curriculum.<ref name="hartford-hwp.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/43/003.html |title=ProLIBERTAD. ''ProLIBERTAD Campaign for the Freedom of Puerto Rican Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War: Arm the Spirit'' 30 October 1995 |publisher=Hartford-hwp.com |accessdate=January 17, 2012}}</ref>
After completing her university studies, Valentín Pérez became active in the community as a young teacher at Tuley High School (later Roberto Clemente High School),<ref name="boricuahumanrights.org" /> demanding that the Chicago Board of Education transfer the incumbent principal, Herbert Fink, and introduce Puerto Rican history and culture in the school's curriculum.<ref name="hartford-hwp.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/43/003.html |title=ProLIBERTAD Campaign for the Freedom of Puerto Rican Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War: Arm the Spirit|date=October 30, 1995|publisher=Hartford-hwp.com|accessdate=January 17, 2012}}</ref>


===Community activist===
===Community activist===
Valentín Pérez worked {{when|date=December 2011}} at the Central YMCA Community College. She sponsored both the Iranian Student Association and the Organization of Arab Students during an intense period of conflict and controversy which led to many physical confrontations with the local police as well as with the [[Shah]]'s secret police. In the community she worked to defeat the [[Chicago 21 Plan]]. She was a founding member and president of the José de Diego Bilingual Center and was on the board of directors of [[ASPIRA Association|Aspira]] of Illinois. Valentín Pérez was also a founding member of the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Puerto Rican Cultural Center.<ref name="hartford-hwp.com"/> Ms. Valentín Pérez helped develop various educational and cultural programs for inmates at the maximum security prison for men at Stateville, Illinois.<ref name="hartford-hwp.com"/>
Valentín Pérez worked {{when|date=December 2011}} at the Central YMCA Community College. She sponsored both the Iranian Student Association and the Organization of Arab Students during an intense period of conflict and controversy which led to many physical confrontations with the local police as well as with the [[Shah]]'s secret police. In the community she worked to defeat the [[Chicago 21 Plan]]. She was a founding member and president of the José de Diego Bilingual Center and was on the board of directors of [[ASPIRA Association|Aspira]] of Illinois. Valentín Pérez was also a founding member of the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Puerto Rican Cultural Center.<ref name="hartford-hwp.com"/> Ms. Valentín Pérez helped develop various educational and cultural programs for inmates at the maximum security prison for men at Stateville, Illinois.<ref name="hartford-hwp.com"/>


==Arrest and jailing==
==Arrest and imprisonment==


===Seditious conspiracy===
===Seditious conspiracy===
Valentín Pérez and 11 others were arrested on April 4, 1980, in [[Evanston, Illinois]].
In 1980 Valentin was arrested, charged with seditious conspiracy and related charges, and sentenced to 90 years. Her release date was scheduled for 2043.<ref name="hartford-hwp.com"/>
She was charged with seditious conspiracy and related charges, and sentenced to 90 years. Her release date was scheduled for 2043.<ref name="hartford-hwp.com"/>


Valentín Pérez and 11 others were arrested on April 4, 1980, in [[Evanston, Illinois]]. They had been linked to more than 100 bombings or attempted bombings since 1974 in their attempt to achieve independence for Puerto Rico.<ref name="nytimes.com"/> At their trial proceedings, all of the arrested declared their status as [[prisoner of war|prisoners of war]], and refused to participate in the proceedings.<ref>[http://www.westword.com/1995-07-12/news/end-of-the-line/ Prendergast, Alan. ''End of the Line.'' Denver Westword, July 12, 1995.] Retrieved on November 21, 2008</ref><ref name="books.google.com">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XKJtYNvKKrgC&pg=PA147 |title=''The Puerto Rican movement: voices from the diaspora.'' By Andrés Torres. Temple University Press. 1998. Page 147 |publisher=Google Books |accessdate=January 17, 2012}}</ref>
They had been linked to more than 100 bombings or attempted bombings since 1974, actions whose goal was to achieve independence for Puerto Rico.<ref name="nytimes.com"/> At their trial proceedings, all of the arrested declared their status as [[prisoner of war|prisoners of war]], and refused to participate in the proceedings.<ref>[http://www.westword.com/1995-07-12/news/end-of-the-line/ Prendergast, Alan. "End of the Line"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128052932/http://www.westword.com/1995-07-12/news/end-of-the-line/ |date=January 28, 2012 }}, ''Denver Westword'', July 12, 1995; retrieved November 21, 2008.</ref>
⚫
<ref name="books.google.com">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XKJtYNvKKrgC&pg=PA147 |title=''The Puerto Rican movement: voices from the diaspora''|author=Andrés Torres|publisher=Temple University Press|year=1998|page=147|isbn=9781566396189 |accessdate=January 17, 2012}}</ref> None of the bombings of which they were convicted resulted in deaths or injuries.<ref name="nytimes.com"/><ref name="justice.gov">{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/pardon/clinton_comm.htm |title=United States Department of Justice. Office of the Pardon Attorney: Commutations of Sentences |publisher=Justice.gov |accessdate=January 17, 2012}}</ref> Among the other convicted Puerto Rican nationalists there were sentences of as long as 90 years in Federal prisons for offenses including sedition, possession of unregistered firearms, interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle, interference with interstate commerce by violence and interstate transportation of firearms with intent to commit a crime.<ref name="nytimes.com"/> None of those granted clemency were convicted in any of the actual bombings. Rather, they had been convicted on a variety of charges ranging from bomb making and conspiracy to armed robbery and firearms violations.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9909/10/faln.clemency.02/index.html |title=CNN. Eleven Puerto Rican Nationalists Freed from Prison.'' September 10, 1999 |publisher=CNN |date=September 10, 1999 |accessdate=January 17, 2012}}</ref> They were all convicted for sedition, the act of attempting to overthrow the Government of the United States in Puerto Rico by force.<ref name="justice.gov"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Hanley |first=Charles J. |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19980510/2749925/puerto-rican-inmate-has-no-regrets-for-his-terrorist-actions |title=The Seattle Times.''Puerto Rican Inmate Has No Regrets For His Terrorist Actions.'' By Charles J. Hanley. May 10, 1998 |publisher=Community.seattletimes.nwsource.com |date=May 10, 1998 |access-date=January 17, 2012}}</ref>

⚫
None of the bombings of which they were convicted resulted in deaths or injuries.<ref name="nytimes.com"/> Valentin was given a 90-year federal sentence for seditious conspiracy and other charges.<ref name="justice.gov">{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/pardon/clinton_comm.htm |title=United States Department of Justice. Office of the Pardon Attorney: Commutations of Sentences |publisher=Justice.gov |accessdate=January 17, 2012}}</ref> Among the other convicted Puerto Rican nationalists there were sentences of as long as 90 years in Federal prisons for offenses including sedition, possession of unregistered firearms, interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle, interference with interstate commerce by violence and interstate transportation of firearms with intent to commit a crime.<ref name="nytimes.com"/> None of those granted clemency were convicted in any of the actual bombings. Rather, they had been convicted on a variety of charges ranging from bomb making and conspiracy to armed robbery and firearms violations.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9909/10/faln.clemency.02/index.html |title=CNN. Eleven Puerto Rican Nationalists Freed from Prison.'' September 10, 1999 |publisher=CNN |date=September 10, 1999 |accessdate=January 17, 2012}}</ref> They were all convicted for sedition, the act of attempting to overthrow the Government of the United States in Puerto Rico by force.<ref name="justice.gov"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Hanley |first=Charles J. |url=http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19980510&slug=2749925 |title=The Seattle Times.''Puerto Rican Inmate Has No Regrets For His Terrorist Actions.'' By Charles J. Hanley. May 10, 1998 |publisher=Community.seattletimes.nwsource.com |date=May 10, 1998 |accessdate=January 17, 2012}}</ref>


===Human rights violations charge===
===Human rights violations charge===
There were reports of human rights violations against the FALN prisoners. Some were sexually assaulted by prison personnel, some were denied adequate medical attention, and others were kept in isolated underground prison cells for no reason. [[Amnesty International]] and the House of Representatives' Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Administration of Justice both criticized the conditions. The conditions were found to be in violation of the ''U.N. Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners''.<ref name="hartford-hwp.com"/>
There were reports of human rights violations against the FALN prisoners. Some were allegedly sexually assaulted by prison personnel or denied adequate medical attention or kept in isolated underground prison cells for no reason. [[Amnesty International]] and the House of Representatives' Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Administration of Justice both criticized the conditions. The conditions were found to be in violation of the ''U.N. Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners''.<ref name="hartford-hwp.com"/>


===Political prisoner===
===Political prisoner===
The sentences received by Valentín Pérez and the other Nationalists were judged to be "out of proportion to the nationalists' offenses."<ref name="nytimes.com"/> Statistics showed their sentences were almost 20 times greater than sentences for similar offenses by the American population at large.<ref name="hartford-hwp.com"/><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XKJtYNvKKrgC&pg=PA149 |title=''The Puerto Rican movement: voices from the diaspora.'' By Andrés Torres. Temple University Press. 1998. Page 149 |publisher=Google Books |accessdate=January 17, 2012}}</ref>
The sentences received by Valentín Pérez and the others would later be judged by United States President Bill Clinton to be "out of proportion to the nationalists' offenses."<ref name="nytimes.com"/> Statistics showed their sentences were almost 20 times greater than sentences for similar offenses by the American population at large.<ref name="hartford-hwp.com"/><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XKJtYNvKKrgC&pg=PA149 |title=''The Puerto Rican movement: voices from the diaspora.'' By Andrés Torres. Temple University Press. 1998. Page 149 |isbn=9781566396189 |accessdate=January 17, 2012|last1=Torres |first1=Andrés |last2=Velázquez |first2=José Emiliano |year=1998 |publisher=Temple University Press }}</ref>


For many years, numerous national and international organizations criticized Carmen Valentin's incarceration categorizing it as political imprisonment.<ref>[http://www.peopleslawoffice.com/archives/puerto-rico/ Peoples Law Office. ''Puerto Rico.'']</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9909/10/faln.clemency.02/index.html |title=Cable News Network (CNN). ''Eleven Puerto Rican Nationalists Freed from Prison.'' September 10, 1999 |publisher=CNN |date=September 10, 1999 |accessdate=January 17, 2012}}</ref> Carmen Valentín Pérez was finally released from prison on September 10, 1999,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=IDSearch&needingMoreList=false&IDType=IRN&IDNumber=88974-024 |title=Federal Bureau of Prisons. U.S. Department of Justice. Inmate Locator |publisher=Bop.gov |accessdate=January 17, 2012}}</ref> after President [[Bill Clinton]] extended her clemency.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/1999/August/352dag.htm |title=United States Department of Justice. Press Release. August 11, 1999 |publisher=Justice.gov |accessdate=January 17, 2012}}</ref> Clinton cited Rev. [[Desmond Tutu]] and former President [[Jimmy Carter]] as having been influential on his decision to grant Valentin the clemency offer.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9909/09/faln.clemency/ |title=CNN. ''FALN prisoners another step closer to freedom: Clinton condemned on Capitol Hill for clemency.'' September 9, 1999 |publisher=CNN |date=September 9, 1999 |accessdate=January 17, 2012}}</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/keyraces2000/stories/faln091199.htm "Puerto Rican Nationalists Freed From Prison"] by Charles Babington. ''The Washington Post'' September 11, 1999, Page A2.]</ref> Cases involving the release of other Puerto Rican Nationalist prisoners have also been categorized as cases of [[political prisoner]]s, with some<ref>[https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/gacol3138.doc.htm United Nations General Assembly. ''Special Committee on Decolonization Approves Text Calling on United States to Expedite Puerto Rican Self-determination Process: Draft Resolution Urges Probe of Pro-Independence Leader's Killing, Human Rights Abuses; Calls for Clean-up, Decontamination of Vieques.'' June 12, 2006.](GA/COL/3138/Rev.1*). Department of Public Information, News and Media Division, New York. Special Committee on Decolonization, 8th & 9th Meetings. (Issued on June 13, 2006.) The Approved Text reads, in part, "As in previous years, ...the Special Committee called on the President of the United States to release Puerto Rican '''political prisoners'''..." (page 1)</ref><ref>[http://www.centropr.org/documents/general_pdfs/Finding_Aids/Reynolds_Ruth.pdf Center for Puerto Rican Studies, Hunter College, City University of New York. ''Guide to the Ruth M. Reynolds Papers: Archives of the Puerto Rican Diaspora.'' August 1991 and December 2003. Updated 2005.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715044154/http://www.centropr.org/documents/general_pdfs/Finding_Aids/Reynolds_Ruth.pdf |date=July 15, 2010 }} Reviews Puerto Rico – U.S. relations, including cases of Puerto Rican '''political prisoners.'''</ref><ref>[http://www.cheverote.com/reviews/marcantonio.html Vito Marcantonio, U.S. Congressman. In his August 5, 1939, speech before Congress titled ''Five Years of Tyranny.'' (Recorded in the ''Congressional Record.'' August 14, 1939.)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112031601/http://www.cheverote.com/reviews/marcantonio.html |date=January 12, 2012 }} In the words of Congressman Marcantonio, "There is no place in America for '''political prisoners'''...When we ask ourselves, 'Can it happen here?' the Puerto Rican people can answer, 'It has happened in Puerto Rico.' as he spoke about the treatment of Puerto Rican Nationalist and U.S. prisoner [[Pedro Albizu Campos]]. Retrieved August 28, 2010.</ref><ref>[http://wbbm.cbslocal.com/2010/07/26/puerto-rican-community-celebrates-release-of-political-prisoner/ Chicago Sun-Times. ''Puerto Rican community celebrates release of political prisoner.''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100731183442/http://wbbm.cbslocal.com/2010/07/26/puerto-rican-community-celebrates-release-of-political-prisoner/ |date=July 31, 2010 }} Report states, "Chicago's Puerto Rican community celebrates the release of '''political prisoner''' Carlos Alberto Torres..."</ref> being more vocal than others.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/05/26/puerto-rican-nationalist-sentenced-years-wells-fargo-robbery-conn/ |title=Fox News Network. ''Puerto Rican Nationalist Sentenced to 7 Years for 1983 Wells Fargo Robbery in Conn.'' May 26, 2010 |publisher=Fox News |date=April 7, 2010 |accessdate=January 17, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Danica Coto |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/28/carlos-alberto-torres-pue_n_661955.html |title=The Huffington Post. ''Carlos Alberto Torres, Puerto Rican Nationalist Imprisoned In Illinois For 30 Years, Returns Home To Puerto Rico .'' July 28, 2010 |work=Huffington Post |accessdate=January 17, 2012 |date=July 28, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Martin |first=Douglas |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/03/us/03lebron.html |title=The New York Times. ''Lolita Lebrón, Puerto Rican Nationalist, Dies at 90''. By Douglas Martin. August 3, 2010 |location=Puerto Rico |work=The New York Times |date=August 3, 2010 |accessdate=January 17, 2012}}</ref>
For many years, numerous national and international organizations criticized Carmen Valentin's incarceration categorizing it as political imprisonment.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.peopleslawoffice.com/archives/puerto-rico/ |title=Peoples Law Office. ''Puerto Rico.'' |access-date=August 26, 2010 |archive-date=July 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715063748/http://www.peopleslawoffice.com/archives/puerto-rico/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9909/10/faln.clemency.02/index.html |title=Cable News Network (CNN). ''Eleven Puerto Rican Nationalists Freed from Prison.'' September 10, 1999 |publisher=CNN |date=September 10, 1999 |accessdate=January 17, 2012}}</ref> Carmen Valentín Pérez was finally released from prison on September 10, 1999,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=IDSearch&needingMoreList=false&IDType=IRN&IDNumber=88974-024 |title=Federal Bureau of Prisons. U.S. Department of Justice. Inmate Locator |publisher=Bop.gov |accessdate=January 17, 2012}}</ref> after President [[Bill Clinton]] extended her clemency.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/1999/August/352dag.htm |title=United States Department of Justice. Press Release. August 11, 1999 |publisher=Justice.gov |accessdate=January 17, 2012}}</ref> Clinton cited Rev. [[Desmond Tutu]] and former President [[Jimmy Carter]] as having been influential on his decision to grant Valentin the clemency offer.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9909/09/faln.clemency/ |title=CNN. ''FALN prisoners another step closer to freedom: Clinton condemned on Capitol Hill for clemency.'' September 9, 1999 |publisher=CNN |date=September 9, 1999 |accessdate=January 17, 2012}}</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/keyraces2000/stories/faln091199.htm "Puerto Rican Nationalists Freed From Prison"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170531144033/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/keyraces2000/stories/faln091199.htm |date=May 31, 2017 }} by Charles Babington. ''The Washington Post'' September 11, 1999, Page A2.]</ref> Cases involving the release of other Puerto Rican Nationalist prisoners have also been categorized as cases of [[political prisoner]]s, with some<ref>[https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/gacol3138.doc.htm United Nations General Assembly. ''Special Committee on Decolonization Approves Text Calling on United States to Expedite Puerto Rican Self-determination Process: Draft Resolution Urges Probe of Pro-Independence Leader's Killing, Human Rights Abuses; Calls for Clean-up, Decontamination of Vieques.'' June 12, 2006.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409222103/https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/gacol3138.doc.htm |date=April 9, 2020 }}(GA/COL/3138/Rev.1*). Department of Public Information, News and Media Division, New York. Special Committee on Decolonization, 8th & 9th Meetings. (Issued on June 13, 2006.) The Approved Text reads, in part, "As in previous years, ...the Special Committee called on the President of the United States to release Puerto Rican '''political prisoners'''..." (page 1)</ref><ref>[http://www.centropr.org/documents/general_pdfs/Finding_Aids/Reynolds_Ruth.pdf Center for Puerto Rican Studies, Hunter College, City University of New York. ''Guide to the Ruth M. Reynolds Papers: Archives of the Puerto Rican Diaspora.'' August 1991 and December 2003. Updated 2005.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715044154/http://www.centropr.org/documents/general_pdfs/Finding_Aids/Reynolds_Ruth.pdf |date=July 15, 2010 }} Reviews Puerto Rico – U.S. relations, including cases of Puerto Rican '''political prisoners.'''</ref><ref>[http://www.cheverote.com/reviews/marcantonio.html Vito Marcantonio, U.S. Congressman. In his August 5, 1939, speech before Congress titled ''Five Years of Tyranny.'' (Recorded in the ''Congressional Record.'' August 14, 1939.)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112031601/http://www.cheverote.com/reviews/marcantonio.html |date=January 12, 2012 }} In the words of Congressman Marcantonio, "There is no place in America for '''political prisoners'''...When we ask ourselves, 'Can it happen here?' the Puerto Rican people can answer, 'It has happened in Puerto Rico.' as he spoke about the treatment of Puerto Rican Nationalist and U.S. prisoner [[Pedro Albizu Campos]]. Retrieved August 28, 2010.</ref><ref>[http://wbbm.cbslocal.com/2010/07/26/puerto-rican-community-celebrates-release-of-political-prisoner/ Chicago Sun-Times. ''Puerto Rican community celebrates release of political prisoner.''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100731183442/http://wbbm.cbslocal.com/2010/07/26/puerto-rican-community-celebrates-release-of-political-prisoner/ |date=July 31, 2010 }} Report states, "Chicago's Puerto Rican community celebrates the release of '''political prisoner''' Carlos Alberto Torres..."</ref> being more vocal than others.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/puerto-rican-nationalist-sentenced-to-7-years-for-1983-wells-fargo-robbery-in-conn |title=Fox News Network. ''Puerto Rican Nationalist Sentenced to 7 Years for 1983 Wells Fargo Robbery in Conn.'' May 26, 2010 |publisher=Fox News |date=April 7, 2010 |access-date=January 17, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Danica Coto |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/28/carlos-alberto-torres-pue_n_661955.html |title=The Huffington Post. ''Carlos Alberto Torres, Puerto Rican Nationalist Imprisoned In Illinois For 30 Years, Returns Home To Puerto Rico .'' July 28, 2010 |work=Huffington Post |accessdate=January 17, 2012 |date=July 28, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Martin |first=Douglas |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/03/us/03lebron.html |title=The New York Times. ''Lolita Lebrón, Puerto Rican Nationalist, Dies at 90''. By Douglas Martin. August 3, 2010 |location=Puerto Rico |work=The New York Times |date=August 3, 2010 |accessdate=January 17, 2012}}</ref>


In criticizing President Clinton's decision to release the Puerto Rican prisoners, the conservative [[Republican Policy Committee Chairman of the United States Senate|U.S. Senate Republican Policy Committee]] also categorized Valentín as a "Puerto Rican Nationalist", echoing a recent ''Newsweek'' article.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rpc.senate.gov/releases/1999/eb2092199.htm |title=U.S. Senate Republican Policy Committee. ''Al Gore: Quick to Condemn "Arms-for-Hostages," but What About "Terrorists-for-Votes?"'' September 21, 1999 |publisher=Rpc.senate.gov |accessdate=January 17, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301131911/http://rpc.senate.gov/releases/1999/eb2092199.htm |archivedate=March 1, 2012 |df=mdy }}</ref> In 2006, the United Nations called for the release of the remaining Puerto Rican political prisoners in United States prisons.<ref>[https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/gacol3138.doc.htm United Nations General Assembly. ''Special Committee on Decolonization Approves Text Calling on United States to Expedite Puerto Rican Self-determination Process: Draft Resolution Urges Probe of Pro-Independence Leader's Killing, Human Rights Abuses; Calls for Clean-up, Decontamination of Vieques.'' June 12, 2006.](GA/COL/3138/Rev.1*). Department of Public Information, News and Media Division, New York. Special Committee on Decolonization, 8th & 9th Meetings. (Issued on June 13, 2006.)</ref>
In criticizing President Clinton's decision to release the Puerto Rican prisoners, the conservative [[Republican Policy Committee Chairman of the United States Senate|U.S. Senate Republican Policy Committee]] also categorized Valentín as a "Puerto Rican Nationalist", echoing a recent ''Newsweek'' article.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rpc.senate.gov/releases/1999/eb2092199.htm |title=U.S. Senate Republican Policy Committee. ''Al Gore: Quick to Condemn "Arms-for-Hostages," but What About "Terrorists-for-Votes?"'' September 21, 1999 |publisher=Rpc.senate.gov |accessdate=January 17, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301131911/http://rpc.senate.gov/releases/1999/eb2092199.htm |archivedate=March 1, 2012 |df=mdy }}</ref> In 2006, the United Nations called for the release of the remaining Puerto Rican political prisoners in United States prisons.<ref>[https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/gacol3138.doc.htm United Nations General Assembly. ''Special Committee on Decolonization Approves Text Calling on United States to Expedite Puerto Rican Self-determination Process: Draft Resolution Urges Probe of Pro-Independence Leader's Killing, Human Rights Abuses; Calls for Clean-up, Decontamination of Vieques.'' June 12, 2006.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409222103/https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/gacol3138.doc.htm |date=April 9, 2020 }}(GA/COL/3138/Rev.1*). Department of Public Information, News and Media Division, New York. Special Committee on Decolonization, 8th & 9th Meetings. (Issued on June 13, 2006.)</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Her decision to return to Puerto Rico after her release was above all about family and love for her homeland. She said, "I felt like I had work to do here, caring for my mother and grand-daughter, Karina Lopez Valentin. Additionally, I always wanted to come back to live here. I never wanted to live in the United States, which I never liked anything about — not the climate, not the food, not the atmosphere. The only reason I stayed there was my involvement with the struggle for the independence of Puerto Rico."<ref name="boricuahumanrights.org">[http://boricuahumanrights.org/2009/12/31/carmen-valentin-%E2%80%9Cthe-historical-moment-i-was-living-in-presented-me-with-this-option-of-struggle-and-i-accepted-it%E2%80%9D/ Carmen Valentín: "The historical moment I was living in presented me with this option of struggle, and I accepted it".] Vanesa Baerga. National Boricua Human Rights Network. December 22, 2009. Retrieved October 16, 2011.</ref> However, she often still visits the States as her only son, Antonio, and the rest of her grandchildren live in Chicago.<ref name="boricuahumanrights.org"/>
Of her decision to return to Puerto Rico, she said, "I felt like I had work to do here, caring for my mother and grand-daughter, Karina López Valentín. Additionally, I always wanted to come back to live here. I never wanted to live in the United States, which I never liked anything about — not the climate, not the food, not the atmosphere. The only reason I stayed there was my involvement with the struggle for the independence of Puerto Rico."<ref name="boricuahumanrights.org">[https://boricuahumanrights.org/carmen-valentin-%E2%80%9Cthe-historical-moment-i-was-living-in-presented-me-with-this-option-of-struggle-and-i-accepted-it%E2%80%9D// Carmen Valentín: "The historical moment I was living in presented me with this option of struggle, and I accepted it".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125075941/https://boricuahumanrights.org/carmen-valentin-%E2%80%9Cthe-historical-moment-i-was-living-in-presented-me-with-this-option-of-struggle-and-i-accepted-it%E2%80%9D/ |date=January 25, 2022 }} Vanesa Baerga. National Boricua Human Rights Network. December 22, 2009. Retrieved October 16, 2011.</ref> However, she often still visits the States as her only son, Antonio, and the rest of her grandchildren live in Chicago.<ref name="boricuahumanrights.org"/>


⚫
She was quoted {{When|date=April 2022}} as saying: "There will never be statehood here. Now I feel it, I see it, and I'm living it. This coming year, the situation will be good because there are so many disastrous policies, like firing thousands of people and the sinister plans this administration has for the [[Northeast Ecological Corridor|Ecological Corridor]]. They're trying to destabilize and destroy everything, and Puerto Rico will rise up."<ref name="boricuahumanrights.org"/>
===Political stance===

⚫
Valentín Pérez feels hopeful about the self-determination of the Puerto Rican people and its political future. She says that lately the patriotic fervor that people have felt fills her with hope: "There will never be statehood here. Now I feel it, I see it, and I'm living it. This coming year, the situation will be good because there are so many disastrous policies, like firing thousands of people and the sinister plans this administration has for the [[Northeast Ecological Corridor|Ecological Corridor]]. They're trying to destabilize and destroy everything, and Puerto Rico will rise up," said Valentin.<ref name="boricuahumanrights.org"/>
In 2017, Valentín Pérez and other Puerto Rican nationalists welcomed a newly freed leader of the nationalists, [[Oscar López Rivera]], who said the nationalists had disavowed violence years ago.<ref name="McFADDEN 2017">{{cite web | last=McFadden | first=David | title=Puerto Rico militant freed after 36 years | website=Daily Hampshire Gazette | date=17 May 2017 | url=https://www.gazettenet.com/Militant-freed-10132893 | access-date=29 November 2022|quote= ...the issue of violence is discarded completely by Puerto Rican "independistas"...}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 47: Line 49:
* [[Lolita Lebrón]]
* [[Lolita Lebrón]]
* [[Puerto Rican independence movement]]
* [[Puerto Rican independence movement]]
⚫
* [[Avelino González-Claudio]]
* [[Oscar Lopez Rivera]]
⚫
* [[Filiberto Ojeda Ríos]]
⚫
* [[Avelino González-Claudio|Avelino Gonzalez Claudio]]
⚫
* [[Filiberto Ojeda Rios]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite web | title=Puerto Rican Prisoner of War Carmen Valentin | website=Internet Archive | date=14 January 2022 | url=https://archive.org/details/PuertoRicanPrisonerOfWarCarmenValentin}} open source interview by the [[Anarchist Black Cross]]

{{PRIndependence}}
{{PRIndependence}}


Latest revision as of 02:54, 13 November 2024

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Valentín and the second or maternal family name is Pérez.

Carmen Hilda Valentín Pérez (born March 2, 1946) is a former member of the FALN, an armed clandestine group which fought for Puerto Rican independence from the United States during the 1970s and 1980s. She was arrested and charged in 1980 for seditious conspiracy and other charges and was sentenced on February 18, 1981, to 90 years imprisonment. She was incarcerated in a U.S. federal prison and released early from prison after President Bill Clinton extended a clemency offer to her on September 7, 1999.[1]

Early years

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Carmen Valentín Pérez was born in Camuy, Puerto Rico, on March 2, 1946, and emigrated with her family to the U.S. when she was 10 years old. She graduated from Providence St. Mel School in 1965, and received a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Northeastern Illinois University and a Masters of Arts in Counselling from Roosevelt University.[2] At the time of her arrest by the U.S. Government on seditious conspiracy charges, she was completing her Doctorate from Loyola University in Chicago.[citation needed]

Professional career

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Teaching

[edit]

After completing her university studies, Valentín Pérez became active in the community as a young teacher at Tuley High School (later Roberto Clemente High School),[2] demanding that the Chicago Board of Education transfer the incumbent principal, Herbert Fink, and introduce Puerto Rican history and culture in the school's curriculum.[3]

Community activist

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Valentín Pérez worked [when?] at the Central YMCA Community College. She sponsored both the Iranian Student Association and the Organization of Arab Students during an intense period of conflict and controversy which led to many physical confrontations with the local police as well as with the Shah's secret police. In the community she worked to defeat the Chicago 21 Plan. She was a founding member and president of the José de Diego Bilingual Center and was on the board of directors of Aspira of Illinois. Valentín Pérez was also a founding member of the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Puerto Rican Cultural Center.[3] Ms. Valentín Pérez helped develop various educational and cultural programs for inmates at the maximum security prison for men at Stateville, Illinois.[3]

Arrest and imprisonment

[edit]

Seditious conspiracy

[edit]

Valentín Pérez and 11 others were arrested on April 4, 1980, in Evanston, Illinois. She was charged with seditious conspiracy and related charges, and sentenced to 90 years. Her release date was scheduled for 2043.[3]

They had been linked to more than 100 bombings or attempted bombings since 1974, actions whose goal was to achieve independence for Puerto Rico.[1] At their trial proceedings, all of the arrested declared their status as prisoners of war, and refused to participate in the proceedings.[4] [5] None of the bombings of which they were convicted resulted in deaths or injuries.[1][6] Among the other convicted Puerto Rican nationalists there were sentences of as long as 90 years in Federal prisons for offenses including sedition, possession of unregistered firearms, interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle, interference with interstate commerce by violence and interstate transportation of firearms with intent to commit a crime.[1] None of those granted clemency were convicted in any of the actual bombings. Rather, they had been convicted on a variety of charges ranging from bomb making and conspiracy to armed robbery and firearms violations.[7] They were all convicted for sedition, the act of attempting to overthrow the Government of the United States in Puerto Rico by force.[6][8]

Human rights violations charge

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There were reports of human rights violations against the FALN prisoners. Some were allegedly sexually assaulted by prison personnel or denied adequate medical attention or kept in isolated underground prison cells for no reason. Amnesty International and the House of Representatives' Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Administration of Justice both criticized the conditions. The conditions were found to be in violation of the U.N. Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.[3]

Political prisoner

[edit]

The sentences received by Valentín Pérez and the others would later be judged by United States President Bill Clinton to be "out of proportion to the nationalists' offenses."[1] Statistics showed their sentences were almost 20 times greater than sentences for similar offenses by the American population at large.[3][9]

For many years, numerous national and international organizations criticized Carmen Valentin's incarceration categorizing it as political imprisonment.[10][11] Carmen Valentín Pérez was finally released from prison on September 10, 1999,[12] after President Bill Clinton extended her clemency.[13] Clinton cited Rev. Desmond Tutu and former President Jimmy Carter as having been influential on his decision to grant Valentin the clemency offer.[14][15] Cases involving the release of other Puerto Rican Nationalist prisoners have also been categorized as cases of political prisoners, with some[16][17][18][19] being more vocal than others.[20][21][22]

In criticizing President Clinton's decision to release the Puerto Rican prisoners, the conservative U.S. Senate Republican Policy Committee also categorized Valentín as a "Puerto Rican Nationalist", echoing a recent Newsweek article.[23] In 2006, the United Nations called for the release of the remaining Puerto Rican political prisoners in United States prisons.[24]

Personal life

[edit]

Of her decision to return to Puerto Rico, she said, "I felt like I had work to do here, caring for my mother and grand-daughter, Karina López Valentín. Additionally, I always wanted to come back to live here. I never wanted to live in the United States, which I never liked anything about — not the climate, not the food, not the atmosphere. The only reason I stayed there was my involvement with the struggle for the independence of Puerto Rico."[2] However, she often still visits the States as her only son, Antonio, and the rest of her grandchildren live in Chicago.[2]

She was quoted [when?] as saying: "There will never be statehood here. Now I feel it, I see it, and I'm living it. This coming year, the situation will be good because there are so many disastrous policies, like firing thousands of people and the sinister plans this administration has for the Ecological Corridor. They're trying to destabilize and destroy everything, and Puerto Rico will rise up."[2]

In 2017, Valentín Pérez and other Puerto Rican nationalists welcomed a newly freed leader of the nationalists, Oscar López Rivera, who said the nationalists had disavowed violence years ago.[25]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e "12 Imprisoned Puerto Ricans Accept Clemency Conditions" Archived September 22, 2017, at the Wayback Machine by John M. Broder. The New York Times September 8, 1999
  2. ^ a b c d e Carmen Valentín: "The historical moment I was living in presented me with this option of struggle, and I accepted it". Archived January 25, 2022, at the Wayback Machine Vanesa Baerga. National Boricua Human Rights Network. December 22, 2009. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "ProLIBERTAD Campaign for the Freedom of Puerto Rican Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War: Arm the Spirit". Hartford-hwp.com. October 30, 1995. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  4. ^ Prendergast, Alan. "End of the Line" Archived January 28, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Denver Westword, July 12, 1995; retrieved November 21, 2008.
  5. ^ Andrés Torres (1998). The Puerto Rican movement: voices from the diaspora. Temple University Press. p. 147. ISBN 9781566396189. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  6. ^ a b "United States Department of Justice. Office of the Pardon Attorney: Commutations of Sentences". Justice.gov. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  7. ^ "CNN. Eleven Puerto Rican Nationalists Freed from Prison. September 10, 1999". CNN. September 10, 1999. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  8. ^ Hanley, Charles J. (May 10, 1998). "The Seattle Times.Puerto Rican Inmate Has No Regrets For His Terrorist Actions. By Charles J. Hanley. May 10, 1998". Community.seattletimes.nwsource.com. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  9. ^ Torres, Andrés; Velázquez, José Emiliano (1998). The Puerto Rican movement: voices from the diaspora. By Andrés Torres. Temple University Press. 1998. Page 149. Temple University Press. ISBN 9781566396189. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  10. ^ "Peoples Law Office. Puerto Rico.". Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
  11. ^ "Cable News Network (CNN). Eleven Puerto Rican Nationalists Freed from Prison. September 10, 1999". CNN. September 10, 1999. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  12. ^ "Federal Bureau of Prisons. U.S. Department of Justice. Inmate Locator". Bop.gov. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  13. ^ "United States Department of Justice. Press Release. August 11, 1999". Justice.gov. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  14. ^ "CNN. FALN prisoners another step closer to freedom: Clinton condemned on Capitol Hill for clemency. September 9, 1999". CNN. September 9, 1999. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  15. ^ "Puerto Rican Nationalists Freed From Prison" Archived May 31, 2017, at the Wayback Machine by Charles Babington. The Washington Post September 11, 1999, Page A2.]
  16. ^ United Nations General Assembly. Special Committee on Decolonization Approves Text Calling on United States to Expedite Puerto Rican Self-determination Process: Draft Resolution Urges Probe of Pro-Independence Leader's Killing, Human Rights Abuses; Calls for Clean-up, Decontamination of Vieques. June 12, 2006. Archived April 9, 2020, at the Wayback Machine(GA/COL/3138/Rev.1*). Department of Public Information, News and Media Division, New York. Special Committee on Decolonization, 8th & 9th Meetings. (Issued on June 13, 2006.) The Approved Text reads, in part, "As in previous years, ...the Special Committee called on the President of the United States to release Puerto Rican political prisoners..." (page 1)
  17. ^ Center for Puerto Rican Studies, Hunter College, City University of New York. Guide to the Ruth M. Reynolds Papers: Archives of the Puerto Rican Diaspora. August 1991 and December 2003. Updated 2005. Archived July 15, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Reviews Puerto Rico – U.S. relations, including cases of Puerto Rican political prisoners.
  18. ^ Vito Marcantonio, U.S. Congressman. In his August 5, 1939, speech before Congress titled Five Years of Tyranny. (Recorded in the Congressional Record. August 14, 1939.) Archived January 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine In the words of Congressman Marcantonio, "There is no place in America for political prisoners...When we ask ourselves, 'Can it happen here?' the Puerto Rican people can answer, 'It has happened in Puerto Rico.' as he spoke about the treatment of Puerto Rican Nationalist and U.S. prisoner Pedro Albizu Campos. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  19. ^ Chicago Sun-Times. Puerto Rican community celebrates release of political prisoner. Archived July 31, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Report states, "Chicago's Puerto Rican community celebrates the release of political prisoner Carlos Alberto Torres..."
  20. ^ "Fox News Network. Puerto Rican Nationalist Sentenced to 7 Years for 1983 Wells Fargo Robbery in Conn. May 26, 2010". Fox News. April 7, 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  21. ^ Danica Coto (July 28, 2010). "The Huffington Post. Carlos Alberto Torres, Puerto Rican Nationalist Imprisoned In Illinois For 30 Years, Returns Home To Puerto Rico . July 28, 2010". Huffington Post. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  22. ^ Martin, Douglas (August 3, 2010). "The New York Times. Lolita Lebrón, Puerto Rican Nationalist, Dies at 90. By Douglas Martin. August 3, 2010". The New York Times. Puerto Rico. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  23. ^ "U.S. Senate Republican Policy Committee. Al Gore: Quick to Condemn "Arms-for-Hostages," but What About "Terrorists-for-Votes?" September 21, 1999". Rpc.senate.gov. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  24. ^ United Nations General Assembly. Special Committee on Decolonization Approves Text Calling on United States to Expedite Puerto Rican Self-determination Process: Draft Resolution Urges Probe of Pro-Independence Leader's Killing, Human Rights Abuses; Calls for Clean-up, Decontamination of Vieques. June 12, 2006. Archived April 9, 2020, at the Wayback Machine(GA/COL/3138/Rev.1*). Department of Public Information, News and Media Division, New York. Special Committee on Decolonization, 8th & 9th Meetings. (Issued on June 13, 2006.)
  25. ^ McFadden, David (May 17, 2017). "Puerto Rico militant freed after 36 years". Daily Hampshire Gazette. Retrieved November 29, 2022. ...the issue of violence is discarded completely by Puerto Rican "independistas"...

Further reading

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