Jorge Farinacci García

Jorge Farinacci García—a former leader of the revolutionary Puerto Rican pro-independence group known as the Macheteros, a labor lawyer and a leader of the Puerto Rican Socialist Front—died of cancer Aug. 26 in San Juan. An appreciation of his contributions will appear in a future issue of this paper. Workers World’s National Committee sent the following letter of condolence to his family and to the Socialist Front.

Jorge Farinacci García, right, with Filiberto Ojeda Ríos, imprisoned in the late 1980s for revolutionary activity.

The leadership and members of Workers World Party of the United States wish to express our deepest sympathy to Rose, Tito and the comrades of the Socialist Front over the death of dear comrade Jorge Farinacci García.

Fari, as he was affectionately known, leaves behind a sea of lessons and political experiences that have enriched revolutionaries not only in Puerto Rico but also right here in the heart of the empire, whose colonial cruelties he very much helped to expose.

We remember with extreme gratitude and honor the many times he addressed our members so they could stay current with the events in Puerto Rico. He was never too tired to engage in a dialog on politics, on the class struggle. He was always available to respond to a consultation, a call, a question, an interview, to do everything that could forward the struggle.

Like all great revolutionaries, Fari was also an internationalist. On two occasions he honored us with his presence as a jurist in anti-imperialist tribunals. In June of 2000 he was one of 16 judges who found the U.S. and NATO guilty of war crimes because of the criminal assault against Yugoslavia the previous year. Then, in June 2001, Fari participated again, this time in a moving event in which 50 years of silence were broken when victims of the crimes of the U.S. war against Korea could finally, for the first time, give their testimonies.

His good natured and simple attitude, without boastfulness, managed to establish instant communication with each person, making a reality of Che’s rule that “Revolutionaries are guided by great feelings of love.”

Now Fari has gone to that special site for those who do not die, who are there encouraging us to continue the fight to obtain that other world which, although it is possible, will only be obtained through socialism.

Thank you, Fari, for all your work in the struggle, for all the good examples you have given us.

Jorge Farinacci, ¡PRESENTE!

National Committee,
Workers World Party
New York
Aug. 28, 2006