Seeking independence from the United States Independence movement in Puerto Rico

1 seeking independence united states

1.1 formation of nationalist party
1.2 events under commonwealth status
1.3 political support
1.4 20th century present
1.5 united nations view

1.5.1 2012 status referendum
1.5.2 2017 status referendum

seeking independence united states

josé coll y cuchí, founder of puerto rican nationalist party

after puerto rico invaded during spanish–american war in 1898, manuel zeno gandía traveled washington, d.c. where, eugenio maría de hostos, proposed idea of independence puerto rico. men disappointed when ideas rejected government , island organized territory. zeno gandia returned island , continued activist.

a number of leaders, including well-known intellectual , legislator called josé de diego, sought independence united states via political accommodation. on june 5, 1900, president william mckinley named de diego, rosendo matienzo cintrón, josé celso barbosa, manuel camuñas, , andrés crosas executive cabinet under u.s.-appointed governor charles h. allen. executive cabinet included 6 american members.

de diego resigned position in order pursue independence. in 1904, co-founded unionist party along luis muñoz rivera, rosendo matienzo cintrón , antonio r. barceló. de diego elected house of delegates, locally elected body of government allowed u.s., on de diego presided 1904 1917. house of delegates subject u.s. president s veto power , unsuccessfully voted island s right independence , self-government. petitioned against imposition of u.s. citizenship puerto ricans in 1917, granted citizenship island residents. despite these failures, de diego became known father of puerto rican independence movement.

pres. roosevelt wielding big stick in caribbean

the newly created puerto rico union party advocated allowing voters choose among non-colonial options, including annexation, independent protectorate, , full autonomy. new party called puerto rico independence party emerged, founded rosendo matienzo cintrón in 1912, promoted puerto rico s independence. same year, scott colón, zeno gandía, matienzo cintrón, , luis lloréns torres wrote manifesto independence. independence party first party in history of island openly support independence united states part of platform.

through 1930s, u.s. banking interests , corporations expanded control of lands in puerto rico, central america , states of south america. 1930 u.s.-based united fruit company owned more 1 million acres of land in guatemala, honduras, colombia, panama, nicaragua, costa rica, mexico , cuba. 1940s, united fruit company owned 50 percent of private land in honduras , 75 percent of private land in guatemala. in guatemala owned of infrastructure, such roads, power stations , phone lines, country s pacific seaport , of railroads.

formation of nationalist party

the main political parties in puerto rico have supported continuing relationship united states , been supported electorate. 1940s voters had elected majority of ppd members in legislature. in 1952 voted 82% in support of new constitution of estado libre associado or commonwealth. sixty years later, in 2012 majority of voted on second question of referendum, indicate type of arrangement preferred, voted seek admission state united states. 61.16% voted statehood, 33.34% voted free association , 5.49% voted independence. hundreds of thousands of voters abstained question, proportion of voters 45% rather majority.

in 1919, puerto rico had 2 major organizations supported independence: nationalist youth , independence association. in 1919, josé coll y cuchí, member of union party of puerto rico, left party , formed nationalist association of puerto rico. in 1922, these 3 political organizations joined forces , formed puerto rican nationalist party, coll y cuchi party president. party s chief goal achieve independence united states. in 1924 dr. pedro albizu campos joined party , named vice-president.

dr. pedro albizu campos advocated armed revolution achieve independence

on may 11, 1930, dr. pedro albizu campos elected president of nationalist party. under leadership, in 1930s party became largest independence movement in puerto rico. but, after disappointing electoral outcomes , strong repression territorial police, mid-1930s albizu opted against electoral political process. advocated violent revolution means achieve independence.

in 1932, pro-independence liberal party of puerto rico founded antonio r. barceló. liberal party s political agenda same of original union party, urging independence puerto rico. among joined him in new party felisa rincón de gautier , ernesto ramos antonini.

by 1932 luis muñoz rivera s son, luis muñoz marín, had joined liberal party. muñoz marín first democratically elected governor of puerto rico.

during 1932 elections, liberal party faced alliance, coalition of republican party of puerto rico , santiago iglesias pantin s socialist party. barceló , muñoz marín both elected senators. 1936, differences between muñoz marín , barceló began surface, between followers considered muñoz marín true leader , considered barceló leader.

muñoz marín , followers, included felisa rincón de gautier , ernesto ramos antonini, held assembly in town of arecibo found partido liberal, neto, auténtico y completo (clear, authentic , complete liberal party), later named people s democratic party (ppd spanish name).

during 1930s , 1940s, nationalist partisans took part in violent incidents:

on april 6, 1932, nationalist partisans marched capitol building in san juan protest legislative proposal approve present puerto rican flag, official flag of insular government. nationalists preferred flag used during grito de lares.
on october 24, 1935, confrontation police @ university of puerto rico, río piedras campus, killed 4 puerto rican nationalist party supporters , 1 policeman. event came known río piedras massacre.
on february 23, 1936, colonel elisha francis riggs, formerly of army , highest police officer in island, assassinated in retaliation río piedras events nationalists hiram rosado , elías beauchamp. rosado , beauchamp arrested, , summarily executed without trial @ police headquarters in san juan.


elias beauchamp gives cadet military salute, moments before being executed @ police headquarters



on march 21, 1937, march in ponce puerto rican nationalist party, organized commemorate ending of slavery in puerto rico, resulted in deaths of 17 unarmed citizens , 2 policemen @ hands of territorial police, event known ponce massacre.
in 1936, u.s. senator millard tydings presented legislative proposal grant independence puerto rico, many people believed had unfavorable economic conditions. barceló , liberal party favored bill, because give puerto rico independence; muñoz marín opposed bill because wanted puerto rico s immediate independence favorable conditions.
on july 25, 1938, shots fired @ colonial governor, blanton winship during parade; killed police colonel luis irizarry. afterward, 2 nationalist partisans attempted assassinate robert cooper, judge of federal court in puerto rico. winship tried suppress nationalists.
on june 10, 1948, united states-appointed governor of puerto rico, jesús t. piñero, signed law bill passed puerto rican senate, controlled elected ppd representatives. prohibited discussion of independence, fighting liberation of island, , curtailed other puerto rican independence activities. ley de la mordaza (gag law) or law 53 officially known, made illegal display puerto rican flag, or sing patriotic song.

events under commonwealth status

the puerto rican independence movement took new measures after free associate state authorized. on october 30, 1950, new autonomist commonwealth status go effect, multiple nationalist uprisings occurred, in effort focus world attention on movement s dissatisfaction new commonwealth status.

they catalyzed dozen skirmishes throughout puerto rico including peñuelas, jayuya uprising, utuado uprising, san juan nationalist revolt, , other shootouts in mayagüez, naranjito, , arecibo. during 1950 jayuya uprising, blanca canales declared puerto rico free republic. 2 days after creation of commonwealth, 2 nationalists attempted assassinate u.s. president harry s. truman in washington, d.c.

the national guard, commanded puerto rico adjutant general major general luis r. esteves , under orders of gov. luis muñoz marín, occupy jayuya

acknowledging importance of question of puerto rican status, truman supported plebiscite in puerto rico in 1952 on new constitution, determine status of island s relationship u.s. people voted 82% in favor of new constitution , free associated state, or commonwealth. nationalists criticized constitution because commonwealth subject u.s. laws , approval u.s. executive , legislative branches of government, branches puerto ricans did not participate in electing. government suppressed nationalist leaders, political activities , influence waned.

four nationalists opened fire on representatives during debate on floor of us. congress in 1954, wounding 5 men, 1 seriously. nationalists tried , convicted in federal court , sentenced life imprisonment. in 1978 , 1979 sentences commuted president jimmy carter time served, , allowed return puerto rico.

in 1960s, united states received international criticism holding onto 1 of world s last colonies. 1960s, new phase of puerto rican independence movement began. several organizations began use clandestine armed struggle against u.s. government. underground people s armies such el movimiento independentista revolucionario en armas (mira), los comandos armado de liberacion (cal), fuerzas armadas de liberación nacional (faln), la organización de voluntarios por la revolución puertorriqueña (ovrp), ejército popular boricua (epb), , others began engaging in subversive activities against u.s. government , military bring attention colonial condition of puerto rico. in 1977, rubén berríos martínez, president of puerto rican independence party, wrote long , detailed article in foreign affairs declared solution independence puerto rico.

political support

a number of social groups, political parties, , individuals worldwide have supported concept of puerto rican independence. washington post reported calls puerto rico s independence have existed since days of spanish colonial rule , continued after united states seized control of island in 1898...although many puerto ricans express deep patriotism island, independence impulse has never translated in polls.

the democratic party in united states asserted in 2012 platform continue work on improving puerto rico’s economic status promoting job creation, education, health care, clean energy, , economic development on island. republican party asserts support[s] right of united states citizens of puerto rico admitted union sovereign state if freely determine, congress should define constitutionally valid options puerto rico gain permanent non-territorial status, , said that, while puerto rico s status should supported referenda sponsored u.s. government. neither of 2 major parties in puerto rico supports independence: popular democratic party supports current status of puerto rico self-governing unincorporated territory, , new progressive party of puerto rico supports statehood.

minority parties have expressed different positions: in 2005, communist party usa passed resolution puerto rico, condemning american imperialism, colonialism, etc., while stating communist party of usa... continues support independence of puerto rico , transfer of sovereign powers puerto rico. platform supported people s acquisition of internationally recognized right independence , self-determination... in 2012, green party of united states had platform supporting independence. socialist party usa not support independence puerto rico, calls full representation u.s.territories of guam , puerto rico, native american reservations, , district of columbia.

during summit of community of latin american , caribbean states in havana, cuba in january 2014, nicolas maduro, president of venezuela, told wall street journal supported puerto rican independence, saying s embarrassment latin america , caribbean in 21st century still have colonies. let imperial elites of u.s. whatever want. @ summit, president of argentina, cristina fernández de kirchner, pledged vote independence of puerto rico; , raúl castro called independent puerto rico.

other individuals , groups supporting puerto rican independence have included: poet martín espada, professor , writer jason ferreira, group calle 13, faln leader oscar lópez rivera, roberto barreto, member of organizacion socialista internacional; puerto rican nationalist carlos alberto torres, , u.s. representative luis gutiérrez.

20th century present

levinson , sparrow in 2005 book suggest foraker act (pub.l. 56–191, 31 stat. 77, enacted april 12, 1900), , jones–shafroth act (pub.l. 64–368, 39 stat. 951, enacted march 2, 1917) reduced political opposition in island, vested u.s. congress authority , veto power on legislation or referendum initiated puerto rico.

founded in 1922, puerto rican nationalist party worked independence. in 1946, gilberto concepción de gracia founded puerto rican independence party (pip). has continued participate in island s electoral process.

in mid-century, cointelpro program project conducted united states federal bureau of investigation (fbi) surveil, infiltrate, discredit, , disrupt domestic political organizations classified suspect or subversive. police documented thousands of extensive carpetas (files) concerning individuals of social groups , ages. approximately 75,000 persons listed under political police surveillance. historians , critics found massive surveillance apparatus directed against puerto rico s independence movement. result, many independence supporters moved popular democratic party support opposition statehood.

in 21st century, majority of independentistas seek achieve independence through either electoral or diplomatic process. party has elected legislative candidates, in recent elections has not won more small percentage of votes gubernatorial candidates (2.04% in 2008) or legislative elections (4.5-5% of island-wide legislative vote in 2008).

united nations view

since 1953, un has been considering political status of puerto rico , how assist in achieving independence or decolonization . in 1978, special committee determined colonial relationship existed between , puerto rico.

note un s special committee has referred puerto rico nation in reports, because, internationally, people of puerto rico considered caribbean nation own national identity. recently, in june 2016 report, special committee called united states expedite process allow self-determination in puerto rico. more specifically, group called on united states expedite process allow people of puerto rico exercise right self-determination , independence. ... allow puerto rican people take decisions in sovereign manner, , address urgent economic , social needs, including unemployment, marginalization, insolvency , poverty .

2012 status referendum

the independence movement has not attracted wide support. in status referendum in 2012, had two-part vote, 5.5% voted independence. analysts noted results ambiguous because of issues related structure of questions , supporters of commonwealth status urging voters abstain voting on second question. journalist roque planas, co-founder of latin american news dispatch, wrote editor in huffington post:

similarly, reported new york daily news, juan gonzalez, journalist , co-host of tv show democracy now! said:

in october 2013, economist reported on island economy s dire financial straits. referring 2012 referendum, said puerto rico unlikely become state time soon. because island remains territory, decision out of boricuas’ hands...the legislature highly unlikely prioritise puerto rican statehood bill...the republican party surely use every tactic @ disposal block statehood bill, island voters have been overwhelmingly supportive of democratic party presidential candidates , expected vote same party congressional seats if statehood approved congress.

the washington post reported in december 2013 that, since puerto ricans became citizens in 1917, have been divided on relationship mainland on whether become state, become independent, or self-governing territory under control.

2017 status referendum

the previous plebiscites provided voters 3 options: statehood, free association, , independence. 2017 referendum offer 2 options: statehood , independence/free association. if majority vote latter, second vote held determine preference: full independence nation or associated free state status independence free , voluntary political association between puerto rico , united states.

the white house task force on puerto rico offers following specifics: free association type of independence. compact of free association establish mutual agreement recognize united states , puerto rico closely linked in specific ways detailed in compact. compacts of sort based on national sovereignty of each country, , either nation can unilaterally terminate association. content of compact of free association might cover topics such role of military in puerto rico, use of u.s. currency, free trade between 2 entities, , whether puerto ricans u.s. citizens.

governor ricardo rosselló in favor of statehood develop economy , solve our 500-year-old colonial dilemma ... colonialism not option .... it’s civil rights issue ... 3.5 million citizens seeking absolute democracy, told news media. benefits of statehood include additional $10 billion per year in federal funds, right vote in presidential elections, higher social security , medicare benefits, , right government agencies , municipalities file bankruptcy. latter prohibited.

statehood might useful means of dealing financial crisis, since allow bankruptcy , relevant protection. according government development bank, might solution debt crisis. congress has power vote allow chapter 9 protection without need statehood, in late 2015 there little support in house concept. other benefits statehood include increased disability benefits , medicaid funding, right vote in presidential elections , higher (federal) minimum wage.

at approximately same time referendum, puerto rico s legislators expected vote on bill allow governor draft state constitution , hold elections choose senators , representatives federal congress. regardless of outcome of referendum , vote on bill, action united states congress necessary implement changes status of puerto rico under territorial clause of united states constitution.