17.919: Declassify This!

James Seale-Collazo talk notes

Brief history of Puerto Rico Spanish colony 1508-1898
Struggles for either full incorporation or autonomy, 1812-1898
Armed insurrection: Lares, 9/23/1868 (3 weeks before beginning of 1st Cuban war of independence)--crushed after one day.
Autonomic Charter, 1897 (context: 2nd Cuban war of independence) only began to be implemented when US invaded. Provided the basis for Pedro Albizu Campos' claim that US occupation is illegal.

Early US colonialism 1898-1952
U.S. invasion July 25, 1898
Military government 1898-1901: frustrated hopes
Insular Cases, 1899-1901: PR is "unincorporated territory;" Congressional power to constitute insular gov't and determine territorial relations
Foraker Act 1901-17: US-appointed governor & upper leg/exec body; elected lower legislative body. First pro-independence party
Jones Act 1917-48: US citizenship & elected bicameral legislature; US-appointed executive

Pedro Albizu Campos assumes leadership of Nationalist Party, 1922

Repression of Nationalist Party, 1934-52:

Ponce massacre, Palm Sunday 1937

Assassination of Police Col. Riggs

Albizu jailed by handpicked jury after 1st jury deadlocked

Luis Muqoz Marmn forms Partido Popular Democratico, 1938; wins legislative elections, 1940. Begins program of land reform, democratization and industrialization with support of Gov. Rexford Tugwell

1948: Elected Governor Law; LMM is 1st elected governor of PR

1948: Major student strike at UPR led by Juan Mari Bras; Albizu returns from jail

1950: Oscar Collazo & Griselio Torresola try to assassinate Truman; 2 killed. October 30th uprising in Jayuya put down by National Guard, shootout at Albizu's house captures Albizu.

Estado Libre Asociado, 1952-present
P.L. 600 allows PR to hold a constitutional convention and draft a constitution
Constitution of PR drafted, approved by referendum; Congress requires Article II section 20 (right to free education) to be struck. Constitution amended and approved by referendum again. Takes effect July 25, 1952 (no coincidence; see above).
PR Independence Party (PIP) formed by PPD dissidents led by Gilberto Concepcisn de Gracia
LMM elected governor 1952, 1956, 1960; Roberto Sanchez Villella 1964.
Albizu jailed until his death in 1964; allegations of radiation torture
"Ley de la mordaza" (Gag Law) in effect through late 1950's, echoing McCarthy
1954: Lolita Lebrsn, Andris Figueroa Cordero, Irving Flores, Rafael Cancel Miranda attack US House of Representatives; jailed until freed by Carter in 1978
1961: Movimiento Pro Independencia formed, led by Juan Mari Bras; Cuban influence
1967: plebiscite shows growing support for statehood
1968: pro-statehood New Progressive Party (PNP) defeats PPD; PPD, PNP alternate in power until present
1969-72: Young Lords Party (YLP) active in NYC, Bridgeport, Philadelphia; targeted by COINTELPRO until its collapse as PR Revolutionary Workers' Organization (PRRWO)
1970: Rubin Berrmos leads protests against USN bombing of Culebra
1971? MPI becomes PR Socialist Party (PSP)

Carlos Gallisa leaves PIP to join PSP

Luis Angel Torres found Popular Socialist Movement (MSP)
1971: Major strike at UPR; several police and students killed
1978: Arnaldo Darmo Rosado and Carlos Soto Arrivm killed at Cerro Maravilla by PR police; early coverup involves FBI
1978: Macheteros attack USN bus in Sabana Seca, PR, killing 2
1979: Protests in Vieques over USN bombing; 16 arrested, jailed in US; Angel Rodrmguez Cristsbal killed in US prison in Tallahassee, FL. Suicide claimed.
1980: Macheteros destroy several USANG A-7 fighter-bombers at Muqiz Air Base, PR
1977-80: FALN active in US
1980: FALN members captured in Chicago, jailed until 1999; 2-3 remain
1985: Major FBI operation captures Machetero leadership after massive investigation.
1980's-90's: PR police surveillance of pro-independence activists declared unconstitutional; files turned over to surveillees. FBI files not involved...