On April 3, 2010, a community remembered thirty years of struggle. Community members spoke about the good and the bad times. They spoke about lessons learned and growth. They spoke about hope. April 4, 2010 marked thirty years that Carlos Alberto Torres, has been incarcerated for “Seditious Conspiracy to Overthrow the US Government.” A large number of people in Paseo Boricua (Chicago’s Puerto Rican Community), have been fighting for his freedom for a long time now. With his freedom the community seeks the freedom of Oscar Lopez Rivera, and the independence of Puerto Rico. The neighborhood talks about how Puerto Rico is being Colonized by the United States of America, and how they will not recognize that.  In struggling with this reality of colonialism, students have been pushed out of public high schools, health and basic essentials were not being met by a government in Humboldt Park.  In 1972, Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Puerto Rican High School (La Escuelita) was created in the basement of a church with eight students.  Some of our founders are those same political prisoners.  Two years ago Carlos and Oscar wrote to the students of “La Escuelita”

Excerpt from a letter Oscar López Rivera wrote:

About four decades ago, which for most of you might seem like eons passed, a few friends and I began having discussions about transforming the community. We were thinking and dreaming Revolution. We were young, full of ideas, energy and dreams, but somewhat naïve and arrogant. Since we were the byproduct of a community that was voiceless and invisible it was perfectly natural for us to want to tear down the walls that kept us mired in such wretched conditions. We talked about transforming the schools, opening the doors of the universities, creating jobs and organizing the workers, building and rehabilitating houses, organizing health clinics, eradicating the drug epidemic, helping the gangs become viable political organizations, taking over institutions and agencies in the community, controlling the police and promoting Puerto Rican culture and Puerto Rican Independence.

The Pedro Albizu Campos High School started from nothing other than ideas and dreams. When we started it we had less than $300 in the bank and no books, materials or a space of our own. I remember going with two of the founding members to St. Mary’s High School, a small catholic school where Irish and Italian families sent their daughters, to discuss the issue of sharing its accreditation. When the nun who ran the school asked about the resources we had for the school it was an embarrassing moment to tell her the truth. Fortunately, she was a wonderful and very sensitive person and didn’t have any problems with allowing the “Puerto Rican High School” (as it was called in the beginning) to share St. Mary’s accreditation.

What is the moral behind these words? I just want to exhort every one of you to dare to dream, to have ideas and to talk the talk and walk the walk. It is true we have not accomplished much and that our community still is overwhelmed with problems. But if you look at PACHS and what it has to offer, you would have to agree that it’s better than what other schools might offer and that it represents a challenge worthwhile facing. Just the thought of being able to grow things on the roof the school represents a challenge I may want to tackle.

A Revolution is an act of love. In order for our community to be transformed it requires our love and dedication. If you are part of that community, love it and dare to struggle to make it better. Don’t forget a better and more just world is possible, if we are willing to make it happen.

Excerpt from a letter Carlos Alberto Torres wrote:

The Pedro Albizu Campos High School will provide you with an excellent education. That is an absolute truth. On the one hand you will encounter the typical courses that are essential in order to expand your knowledge base, and learn to navigate successfully in a modern society. On the other hand, you will also be exposed to new ideas that will challenge the way you think about yourself, your history, and your role and responsibilities within the human and ecological environment which is our community. What you accomplish through your efforts at this high school, you accomplish for yourselves, for your children, and for all of us. That is the challenge. I wish you growth and happiness – Thank you.

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The event on Saturday, lasted over two hours, and had speakers ranging from former political prisoners to eleven year old singers. Students from Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos Puerto Rican High School, visited the exhibit and reflected on the impact. There were family members present and lifelong friends of the political prisoners who came to share inspiring stories. Overall, there was a vibe of comfort, hope, and pride that radiated in the room. Watch the video below to take a virtual tour of the exhibit.