Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico was invaded by the US in 1898 after winning
independence from Spain. An independence movement has thrived ever since
that has reasserted a right to self-determination and an end to US
colonialism. Includes extensive material on Puerto Rican
Independentistas, political prisoners, prisoners of war* and land rights as well as
struggles in the diaspora.
This collection contains sub-collections focused on political parties and organizations committed to the struggle for Puerto Rican independence, groups and organizations founded to support political prisoners and prisoners of war and general information.
*Prisoners of War:
On October 12, 1970, UN resolution 2621 approved by the General Assembly, declared colonialism an international crime. Said resolution reaffirmed the right of any intervened, colonized nation to utilize whatever form of struggle is necessary to obtain its independence. Armed struggle, military resistance and whatever form of struggle that leads to the independence of nations that are colonized, invaded and occupied by foreign military troops, is recognized as a right by the UN. Puerto Rico, by virtue of being a colonial state is supported by International Law.
International Law is also very specific in reference to prisoners of war. According to the Geneva Convention, combatants who have declared themselves prisoners of war must be recognized as such. Those Puerto Ricans arrested were armed and accused of belonging to the Armed Forces of Puerto Rican National Libertion. The nature of the arrest and the US government's own indictment only serves to reaffirm that the eleven were combatants in the struggle for Puerto Rican independence at the time of their arrests. According to the Geneva Treaty, ratified by the UN in 1949, captured soldiers are prisoners of war. It is thus the argument of the eleven that they are prisoners of war.
This collection contains sub-collections focused on political parties and organizations committed to the struggle for Puerto Rican independence, groups and organizations founded to support political prisoners and prisoners of war and general information.
*Prisoners of War:
On October 12, 1970, UN resolution 2621 approved by the General Assembly, declared colonialism an international crime. Said resolution reaffirmed the right of any intervened, colonized nation to utilize whatever form of struggle is necessary to obtain its independence. Armed struggle, military resistance and whatever form of struggle that leads to the independence of nations that are colonized, invaded and occupied by foreign military troops, is recognized as a right by the UN. Puerto Rico, by virtue of being a colonial state is supported by International Law.
International Law is also very specific in reference to prisoners of war. According to the Geneva Convention, combatants who have declared themselves prisoners of war must be recognized as such. Those Puerto Ricans arrested were armed and accused of belonging to the Armed Forces of Puerto Rican National Libertion. The nature of the arrest and the US government's own indictment only serves to reaffirm that the eleven were combatants in the struggle for Puerto Rican independence at the time of their arrests. According to the Geneva Treaty, ratified by the UN in 1949, captured soldiers are prisoners of war. It is thus the argument of the eleven that they are prisoners of war.
Subcollections
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Free Puerto Rican POWs and Political Prisoners
The National Committee to Free Puerto Rican POWs and Political Prisoners, 1981-1998, campaigned around many issues, regarding the 15 Puerto Rican Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War. -
Fuerzas Armadas de Liberacion Nacional (FALN)
The FALN was an anti-colonial and anti-imperialist clandestine organization based in the diaspora using armed propaganda to advocate for Puerto Rican independence. -
Libertad
Bi-lingual newsletters produced from 1979-1998 by the Committee to Free Puerto Rican Prisoners of war. Libertad’s primary mission was to organize support for Puerto Rican prisoners of war incarcerated by the United States. -
Movimiento de Liberacion Nacional
Formed to analyze attempts by the US government to crush the Puerto Rican independence movement, and to form a new political vehicle to resist this oppression. -
New Movement
An anti-imperialist group in solidarity with the Puerto Rican Independence movement, it supported all aspects of the Puerto Rican Independence Movement- including clandestine groups on the island and in the Diaspora. -
Puerto Rico Small Books and Monographs
This collection contains books and monographs pertaining to the independence struggle of Puerto Rico. Many of these books were written by major figures in the Puerto Rican Independence movement and discuss a variety of topics. -
Puerto Rico: A History of the People
This collection contains documents detailing the various struggles of Puerto Ricans against foreign invaders from the arrival of the Spanish to the current occupation by the United States of America. -
Que Ondee Sola
Que Ondee Sola was established in 1972 and remains the oldest Puerto Rican/Latina/o university student publication in print.
Documents
5 Documents Found
Lolita Lebron - Los Topos
This is a short role play drama on Lolita Lebron by Los Topos---needs editing, has discussion of production on it.
Viva Boricua!
Date: 9/1/1973Call Number: KP 199Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Sidney JohnsonCollection: Puerto Rico
Viva Boricua!
A survey of the independence movement in Puerto Rico as told by independistas. Features interviews with staff and students from the University of Puerto Rico, and Puerto Ricans living in New York City.
Dr. Luis Nieves Falcón, the director of the Social Studies research Center at the University of Puerto Rico speaks about the independence movement since "operation bootstrap," a U.S. colonial program to industrialize Puerto Rico.
Robert Anderson the Dean of Social Studies at UPR comments on the deterioration of Puerto Rico as an agricultural society.
The creator of a socio-cultural book series written for children compares the difference between the colonial curriculum, and her own books which were deemed subversive for showing images of poverty, barefoot children and the realities of a 30% unemployment rate. She describes different ways the independence movement is persecuted in the media, through the judicial process, by forcing employers to fire activists, and by direct FBI harassment.
A Puerto Rican economic advisor living in NYC, describes Puerto Rican migration to New York and criticizes the environmental harm and unjust economic impact of "operation bootstrap."
Interview with Puerto Rican Revolutionary Workers Organization
Interview about state of Puerto Rican Independence movement.
Puerto Rico Superport: Rest of the News
Date: 10/7/1974Call Number: KP 314Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: rest of the newsCollection: Puerto Rico
Report on plans for building a super port in Puerto Rico, includes discussion of UNB decolonization resolution, mass sterilization of Puerto Rican women, US control of Puerto Rican government.
Puerto Rican Political Prisoners
Date: 10/30/1973Call Number: KP 322Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Radio Havana CubaCollection: Puerto Rico
Program on Puerto Rican political prisoners as broadcast on Radio Havana Cuba.
5 Documents Found
