New York, May 5 (RHC)-- Puerto Rican independence activist José Soler has died in New York City.  He was a staunch internationalist and anti-imperialist throughout his life.  During the 1970s and 80s, he worked actively in the struggle against the South African apartheid regime.   He was also a great friend and defender of the Cuban Revolution.

Soler emerged in the social justice world as a leader in the Chicano rights organization the Brown Berets. He advocated for human rights and the independence of Puerto Rico since the 1970s.  Throughout his life, Soler continued to work in the labor rights movement.  

For over 20 years, Soler was director of the UMass Dartmouth Labor Education Center, and most recently co-head of the New Bedford Coalition to Save Our Schools, which fought charter school expansion.

He was a union organizer with UAW District 65 in New York City and a labor journalist.  José Soler was 75 years old.