Translation of opúsculo Quien es Nina Droz?
Panel 1
Who is Nina Droz?
Nina Droz Franco is a Puerto Rican woman, distinguished for her activism and and profound commitment to social causes. Throughout her university career, she defended the concept of a democratic and excellent university for all, including the poor who are usually denied access to quality higher education.
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Born on July 30th 1980, in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Nina obtained a B.A. in Art and her M.A. in various universities , including the University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón, Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, the school of Plastic Arts in San Juan and the Full Sail University in Florida. She has shown her commitment to her fellow Puerto Ricans through her activism in the campaign for organ and blood donations for survivors of accidents and disease. Nina has also displayed support for women who are victims of domestic violence as well as children who are at risk of abandoning school. Her commitment to the human rights of her fellow Puerto Ricans led her to participate in the May First demonstration in 2017, during which she was arrested.
Police arrest Nina Droz
On May 1st, 2017, over 60,00 persons participatded in a protest march against the austerity policies imposed by the United States and Puerto Rican governments upon the people of Puerto Rico. In the so called Golden Mile in Hato Rey, Puerto
Rico, thousands of workers denounced with their presence and their voices, the Fiscal Oversight Board and the implementation of the P.R.O.M.I.S.E. Law in Puerto Rico. The protester demonstrated their unconditional support of workers rights and their solidarity and defense of the University of Puerto Rico.
RETRATO DE NINA SIENDO ARRESTADA
During the protest a group of youth excersized their democratic rights to dissent and were intervened by the Police of Puerto Rico and United States federal agents in the island; Nina was in this group. Before speaking to a lawyer, and in the wee hours of the night, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms and Explosives (A.T.F.) moved Nina, without legal justification. Of the twenty persons arrested, Nina was the only one processed by Federal authorities and accused of attempted arson for allegedly trying to burn the enormous Banco Popular building in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico with a single match. She was placed in the Federal Detention Center of the United States government in Guaynabo without the right to bail.
In a sexist society, being a woman and an activist
Is a double stigma. Nina is being punished
for transgressing gender boundaries.
Imprisonment in Puerto Rico
Incarcerated in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, while she awaited trial and sentencing for 13 months, Nina spent most of the time in solitary confinement(in the hole) isolated from her peers and family, without communication. She was subject to humiliating and inhuman treatment such as providing her food without utensils, forcing her to eat with her hands, limiting the visits from her parents who have also been subject to abusive treatment from prison authorities. Other acts of harassment against Nina have been prohibiting phone calls and the use of internet.
Sexual harassment
In the prison in Guaynabo Nina suffered from continuous sexual harassment from the guard Roberto Guzmán, who watched her when she went to the bathroom, behaviour which was publicly denounced but was never acted upon by the Court. Days after sentencing where Nina Droz spoke publicly before the Court of the continuous violations of human rights that the women in this prison suffered; a functionary of the prison violently strip searched Nina while she was handcuffed on both hands and feet; while her sexual harasser filmed the search under the pretext that Nina had a cigarette hidden somewhere on her body. The evidence was never found.
Nina has been a victim of all types of repression due to her defense of the human rights of her fellow prisoners. She soon became the “voice of the voiceless “. In a traditional and sexist society being a woman and an activist is doubly stigmatizing. Nina is punished for overstepping the boundaries of gender. We believe this is one of the reasons that Nina is The sentence imposed on NinaRconspiracy, one of the several charges made initially. She sentenced Nina to 37 months of confinement in the Federal Women’s Prison, in Tallahassee, Florida. She also imposed a fine of $100.00. Upon completion of her sentence Nina will have to complete three years of probation under court supervision.
Tallahassee Prison: Terrible and Cruel
Right now, Nina is subject to four disciplinary sanctions:
1. Zero access to communication via internet or emails until February, 2019.
2. Zero access to telephone calls until February, 2019.
3. Zero visits until February, 2019.
4. Zero access to commissary for food or other articles until August, 2019 (limited access to postage stamps, card for copies, some clothing and personal hygiene articles).
?written information has been provided as to the reason for these sanctions, nor who made these decisions or when they were made.
How to support Nina
1. Write to her
Nina Droz Franco
50427069 Unit B
Federal Correction Institution
501 Capital Circle N.E.
Tallahassee, Florida 32301
2. Participate in activities organized by the Committee of Friends and Family of Nina Droz Franco.
3. Make economic contributions.
4. Coordinate activities with the Committee in support of Nina.
5. Help promote the case writing and offering talks.
6. Promote support for releasing Nina from prison, nationally and internationally.
7. Help others to learn about Nina.
8. Support the Committee in any way you can.
TO DO NOTHING IS TO CONVERT ONESELF IN COMPLICE OF INJUSTICE.
Committee of Friends & Family of Nina Droz Franco
The Committee is an open group that seeks to offer support and accompany Nina and her family; guarantee that her human and civil rights are respected while Nina is incarcerated; promote Nina’s case on a national and international level; widen the support network counting with all sectors of society; guarantee prison visits to Nina from her mother, father, her lawyer or representatives from the Committee; ensure that Nina’s basic needs are fulfilled and that she is not denied access to commissary.
At present the Committee is starting a campaign of collaboration to guarantee the visit of Nina’s parents and a representative from the Committee to the prison. We invite you to support the campaign.
Please send your donation to
First Bank
Checking account #1 900 215 273
Thank you!
Committee of Friends & Family for Nina Droz Franco
Box 3652
Bayamon Garden Station
Bayamon, Puerto Rico 00958
Contacts:
Mariana Nogales Esq.
787-375-6787
Rosalinda Soto Toledo
787-547-8975
Facebook: Comité de Amigos y Familares de Nina Droz Franco
#NinaNoEstaSola
September, 2018