Rodriguez, from an early age, identified himself with the revolutionary processes of the region, being the Cuban Revolution his main reference.

Very young, he joined the ranks of the June 14th Revolutionary Movement (14J) in opposition to the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo (1930-1961).

Being persecuted for his revolutionary ideas, he was forced to go into exile in Puerto Rico and during the revolution of April 1965, he returned to the Dominican Republic to continue the struggle.

He was commander of the civic-military insurrection of April 1965 to return to the legitimate and constitutional government of Juan Bosch (1909-2001).

Defender of the unity of the progressive and leftist forces in his country, in the 1970s he was imprisoned with his lifelong wife, Miriam Rodríguez. Behind bars – where he remained for three years – he suffered all kinds of physical and psychological torture.

Rodríguez founded in the 1990s the Dominican Campaign for Solidarity with Cuba, permanently demanding an end to the U.S. blockade against Cuba, together with other fellow activists.

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