Anti-war forces in Puerto Rico protest Nat'l Guard convention

Four days of marches and demonstrations were held here in late August against the U.S. war in Iraq and against militarism in general. Their focus was the Conference of the National Guard Association of the United States, held at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan.

Puerto Rico’s Socialist Front says no to imperialist war. WW photo: Tom Soto

The conference had the endorsement, protection and financial support of the government of Puerto Rico. Military contractors and providers were invited to display their wares to leading National Guard personnel from all over the U.S.

On Aug. 24, the Socialist Front and the Hostos National Independence Move-ment held a march from the Capitol building to La Plaza de Colón, where the governor was to hold a dinner for “special guests” attending the conference. Though the anti-war march was modest in size, it nonetheless forced the governor to relocate the publicly announced function.

On Aug. 25, the Puerto Rican Inde-pendence Party (PIP) held a spirited picket of several hundred near La Princesa in Old San Juan. Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vilá had planned a dinner reception. Again, it had to be moved to a secret locality due to the protesters.

On Aug. 26, the Alliance Against the National Guard Convention led by pacifist organizations held a rally in front of the Convention Center under the banner of “On the Move For Peace.” Several hundred attended.

And lastly, on Aug. 27, Mothers Against the War held a noontime picket line near the governor’s mansion in Old San Juan.

Julio Muriente of the Hostos National Independence Movement, speaking Aug. 24 at the Plaza de Colón, told the crowd: "We are not against Americans who want to visit our island nation in the name of peace, but to organize a convention for the sale of arms is an insult we cannot remain quiet about. ... We want an end to the war against Iraq that has also cost the lives of many Puerto Ricans."

Javier Córdoba of the Socialist Front followed, saying: “The National Guard is part of the capitalist state. ... The National Guard is part of the imperialist army that carries out wars of aggression for the benefit of the corporations ... the same corporations that have come to this convention here in Puerto Rico.”

For a whole week the Puerto Rico Convention Center was militarily cordoned off. More than 700 police set up a “secure zone,” literally surrounding the convention facility.

Who pays the bill for all these police? The working people of Puerto Rico.