Puerto Ricans Cheer Commutation for Nationalist Oscar Lopez

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Car horns rang out across Puerto Rico on Tuesday after President Barack Obama announced he had commuted the prison sentence of 74-year-old nationalist Oscar Lopez Rivera.

Many Puerto Ricans have long demanded his release, and some wept with emotion upon hearing the news while others began preparing for all-night parties announced on social media.

His lawyer, Jan Susler, told The Associated Press that she broke the news of the release to Lopez, who was sentenced to 55 years in prison for his role in a violent struggle for independence for the U.S. island territory.

"He's very, very grateful," she said in a phone interview. "One of the things he said was: 'Tomorrow's my daughter's birthday. What an amazing present for her.'"

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/01/17/world/americas/ap-cb-puerto-rico-oscar-lopez.html