Pagan spent nearly 20 years in prison for her involvement in the Puerto Rican Independence movement.

Puerto Rican activist Dylcia Pagan spent nearly 20 years in federal prison on charges of seditious conspiracy. She was captured on April 4th, 1980 and imprisoned with other comrades for participating in the underground wing of the Puerto Rican Independence movement.

Pagan was born and raised in New York City. She studied cinematography and sociology at Brooklyn College where she founded the Puerto Rican Students Union.

Throughout her incarceration, Pagan remained active in the struggle as a prisoner of war resisting the illegal occupation of her homeland by the United States. She is working on a documentary about other Puerto Rican women who are being held as political prisoners. She lives in Puerto Rico and her parole terms only allow her to travel twice a year so we’re particularly pleased to have her in the studio.

• Dylcia Pagan, former Puerto Rican political prisoner.