" Los Macheteros "
Genealogy Of Los macheteros
the Taíno rebellion of 1511 led by the most powerful cacique at the time (Agüeybaná ll), , cacique of Añasco, organized a revolt in 1511 against the Spaniards in the southern and western parts of the Island of Borinquen-(Puerto Rico). He was joined by Guarionex, cacique of Utuado, who attacked the village of Sotomayor (present-day Aguada) and killed 80 Spanish colonists. Juan Ponce de León led the Spaniards in a series of offensives that culminated in the Battle of Yagüecas. Agüeybaná II's people, who were armed only with spears, bows, and arrows, were no match for the guns of the Spanish forces, and Agüeybaná II was shot and killed in the battle. The revolt ultimately failed, and many Taínos either committed suicide or fled the island.
The birth of Puertorican nationalism
The birth of Puertorican nationalism began as an uprising Led by Dr. Ramon Emetero Betance and segundo ruiz belvis Frustrated by the lack of political and economic freedom, and enraged by the continuing repression on the island, an armed rebellion was staged by the pro-independence movements throughout the island. Dr Ramon Emetero Betance and segundo ruiz belvis founded The revolutionary committee of Puerto Rico on janurary 6 1868 at 2am september 23 1868 the Flag of the revolution of lares was flown atop over the local church, they took over city hall and revolution was declared..
Los Machetero also known as Boricua popular army was named after the group of Puerto Ricans who assembled to defend the island of Puerto Rico from the forces of spain So in order to symbolically represent the coming invading forces of the United States Army during the Spanish–American War, between July 26 and August 12, 1898.
- During the 1890's General Antonio Valero de Bernabé, also known as "The Liberator from Puerto Rico", fought for the independence of South America together with Simón Bolívar whom also wanted an independent Puerto Rico. Simón Bolívar sought to create a federation of Latin American nations, which would include Puerto Rico and Cuba.
on November 1, 1950 2 Puertorican nationalists attempted to assasinate U.S. President Harry S. Truman It was carried out by two Puerto Rican pro-independence activists, Oscar Collazo and Griselio Torresola, while the President resided at the Blair House. Torresola mortally wounded White House Police officer Leslie Coffelt, who killed him in return fire. Secret Service agents also were involved and wounded Collazo.
Lolita Lebron is a Puerto Rican nationalist who led an attack on the U.S. house of representatives on March 1, 1954 with three other men: Rafael Cancel Miranda, Andres Figueroa Cordero, and Irving Flores Rodriguez. More than 240 House members were debating an immigration bill when bullets started whizzing overhead, slamming into marble columns, splintering wood. Everywhere, House members were sliding under desks and running for exits.
Los macheteros were organized in the 1970s by Filiberto Ojeda Ríos, Juan Enrique Segarra-Palmer and Orlando González Claudio. The group began its operations in 1976, however it can trace its origins back to the Armed Forces of National Liberation (FALN). Upon its beginnings, the group attracted a wide variety of Puerto Rican independence supporters, including some of the members of the University Pro-Independence Federation of Puerto Rico (FUPI) and the Pro-Independence Movement. Only some members of the above groups supported the Macheteros' ideology and methods because of their extreme approach in their appeal for puerto rico's independence.
INCIDENTS INVOLVING LOS MACHETEROS
- January 24, 1975 FALN, through their Communique No. 3 claimed responsibility for the bombing of the Fraunces Tavern in New York City, killing four people and injuring more than 50. No one was ever charged with the bombing.
- December 11, 1974 Angel Poggi, a police officer, lost an eye and was permanently disabled by one of FALN's bombs at 336 East 110th Street in East Harlem in New York City.
- April 3 1977 FALN took responsibility for four bombings in New York City, by leaving their Communique No. 4 for the Associated Press at a phone booth. The four bombs went off within a 40 minute period. The first bomb exploded on 51 Madison Avenue, the New York Life Insurance Company. The second bomb exploded on 45 East Forty-Ninth Street, the Bankers Trust Company plaza. The third bomb exploded on 340 Park Avenue South, the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company headquarters. The fourth bomb exploded on 5 West Forty-Sixth Street, the Blimpie Base restaurant. At least five people were injured from the bombings.
- August 8 1977 A bomb attributed to FALN was found in the AMAX building in New York City.
- June 9 1979 FALN exploded a bomb outside of Shubert Theatre in Chicago, injuring five people.
- March 15 1980 Armed members of FALN raided the campaign headquarters of Carter-Mondale in Chicago and the campaign headquarters of George H. W. Bush in New York City. Seven people in Chicago and ten people in New York were tied up as the offices were vandalized before the FALN members fled. A few days later, Carter delegates in Chicago received threatening letters from FALN. On April 5, 11 members of FALN were arrested for attempting to rob an armored truck at Northwestern University; three were linked to the raid on the Carter-Mondale campaign headquarters.