Puerto Rican independista defies grand jury

The Brooklyn Grand Jury’s district attorney agreed May 30 that Elliot Monteverde Torres, a Puerto Rican independence activist, would not have to testify. When it was clear that Monteverde Torres would refuse to testify, it was agreed to adjourn the case. As Monteverde Torres’ attorney, Roger Wareham, explained, “It’s a recognition of the strength of the movement” that this is left as an “open case.”

Thirty representatives of many progressive and working-class organizations, who had come to the court in solidarity with Monteverde Torres, rallied and picketed for almost two hours at Cadman Plaza as they awaited a decision on the case. Ana López of the Hostos Grand Jury Resistance Campaign led the rally in chants of “FBI, CIA, out of Puerto Rico!” The next scheduled solidarity actions will be at the United Nations buildings in Manhattan on June 9 and 10.