Oscar López Rivera is a Puerto Rican nationalist and former member of the FALN, a group that sought independence for Puerto Rico from the United States. He was convicted in 1981 on charges related to seditious conspiracy and was sentenced to 55 years in prison. His case became a focal point for discussions about Puerto Rican independence and political prisoners. After spending nearly 36 years in prison, López Rivera was granted clemency by President Barack Obama in January 2017. His release sparked celebrations among supporters who viewed him as a symbol of the struggle for Puerto Rican rights and independence.