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
Programa Navideno Puertoriqueno/ Puerto Rican Christmas Program
Date: 12/24/1987Call Number: LA 065Format: Cass A & BProducers: AvotjaProgram: KPFACollection: Puerto Rico
Music for Christmas from Puerto Rico, Un asalto navideno by Joe Kijalo and his group Cachala with Cheo Feliciano, Cortijho, Cachao, etc; los Pleneros de lo quinto olivo; Parranda jibara. Then side B with Angel canales, Johnny Bravo, La Lupe y Tito Puente, Elias Lopez, Lucecita Venitez, Felix Olmo, etc.
Piri Thomas
The last part of a program with Piri Thomas. Piri Thomas performs some of his poetry and that of others from the Puerto Rican community.
LIBERTAD
Publisher: National Committee to Free Puerto Rican Prisoners of WarYear: 1987Volume Number: Vol. VIII-IX SeptemberFormat: PeriodicalCollection: Libertad
Contents: FBI/Prosecution Thwarted in Conspiracy to Escape Case!; Message to the Puerto Rican Independence 16; To all Democratic and Anti-Fascist People; Psychological Torture; UN Decolonization Committee Declares Puerto Rico a Colony; Protesters Shut Down Military Base in Arlington Heights; Puerto Rico Independence; 119 Years Later: The Spirit of Mariana Bracetti Lives on in Alejandrina Torres
LIBERTAD
Publisher: National Committee to Free Puerto Rican Prisoners of WarYear: 1987Volume Number: Vol. VIII-IV AprilFormat: PeriodicalCollection: Libertad
Contents: International Outcry Against Lexington Control Units; FBI Destroys Evidence: US\'s Case begins to come apart; 9th Anniversary Colonia Andres Figueroa Cordero- 15,000 Denounce Lexington Control Unit; Resistance is not a Crime; News on the Puerto Rican Independence 16; National Committee Salutes Conference on Academic Freedom; 50th Commemoration of the Ponce Massacre
Juan Antonio Corretjer, 1908-1985
Publisher: Movimiento de Liberacion NacionalYear: 1987Format: ArticleCollection: Movimiento de Liberacion Nacional
Spanish tabloid insert, includes biography of Juan Antonio Corretjer and poster for 1987 International Women's Day celebration.
Informe a la Comision de Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas - Contrainsurgencia contra los Prisioneros Politicos…
Publisher: Attorneys and Legal Representatives for the Puerto Rican Political Prisoners and Prisoners of WarYear: 1987Format: ReportCollection: Fuerzas Armadas de Liberacion Nacional (FALN)
Submission to the UN Human Rights Commission in support of the Puerto Rican Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War - lays out historical issues re colonialism and human rights violations in Puerto Rico and legal basis for resistance.
Human Rights for a Special Lady
Publisher: Civil Rights JournalYear: 1987Format: ArticleCollection: Fuerzas Armadas de Liberacion Nacional (FALN)
Article on demonstration protest against inhumane treatment of Alejandrina Torres and 5 other Puerto Rican Political Prisoners
Boots, Boots, Boots: Intervention, Regional Security, and Militarization in the Caribbean 1979-1986
Publisher: Caribbean Project for Justice and PeaceYear: 1987Volume Number: Militarism Series 2/ Second Edition AugustFormat: MonographCollection: Puerto Rico: A History of the People
A study of how the militarization process of the Caribbean basin by the U.S. affects the rights of the people who live there.
Program and Ideology of the MLN - 10 years of Unceasing Struggle
Publisher: Movimiento de Liberacion NacionalYear: 1987Format: MonographCollection: Movimiento de Liberacion Nacional
3 in English, 2 in Spanish. First Congress of the Movimiento de Liberacion Nacional Puertorriqueno [MLN], held July 3-5, 1987
Alejandrina Torres: A Profile of a Puerto Rican Prisoner of War
Publisher: Free Puerto Rico CommitteeYear: 1987Format: MonographCollection: Fuerzas Armadas de Liberacion Nacional (FALN)
Biography and account of inhumane treatment at the hands of the US prison system.
