Thousands march against the FBI

Under the hot, bright sun of a Caribbean sky, thousands of workers and their families representing a cross section of Puerto Rican society marched here on Feb. 25—from “la avenida Roosevelt” (Roosevelt Avenue) in the financial district to the U.S. federal court house on Chardón Street—to denounce growing FBI repression against the independence movement.

Thousands march in San Juan. WW photos: Tom Soto

The march, which stretched out for more than 10 blocks, with 10 to 15 people abreast, was flooded with Puerto Rican flags and banners condemning the recent FBI raids against the independence movement and also the FBI assassination last Sept. 23 of Filiberto Ojeda Ríos, leader of the Ejército Popular Boricua—Macheteros (the Puerto Rican Popular Army—Cane Cutters).

Contingents of marchers were grouped behind a huge lead banner which read: “Puerto Rico se respeta—fuera el FBI” (Respect Puerto Rico—FBI get out).

Marchers honor independentistas killed by the FBI in recent years.

The demonstration was sparked by FBI raids on Feb. 10 against six pro-independence activists, in which agents seized personal property, computers and the mailing lists of independence organizations. The FBI claimed it was averting an unspecified terrorist attack by the Macheteros.

Julio Muriente of the Hostos National Independence Movement (Movimiento Independentista Nacional Hostosiano/MINH), the initiating organization of the Feb. 25 activity, estimated the crowd at 8,000.

Elma Beatriz Rosado, widow of Filiberto Ojeda.

The relatively large demonstration was noteworthy due to the broad support it drew on short notice.

Marchers included women and men, young and old, students and workers.

The protest against the FBI was supported by many organizations, such as Mothers Against the War, the Federation of Pro-independence University Students, the Organization of Puerto Rican Working Women and the Socialist Front, among others.

Union leaders such as Ricardo Santos and José Rodríguez—the presidents of the Electrical Industry Workers Union and the Federation of Puerto Rican Workers, respectively—were also present. Ismael Guadalupe, leader of the struggle to get the U.S. Navy out of the island of Vieques, ex-political prisoners Rafael Cancel Miranda, Elizam Escobar, Dylcia Pagán and many others were also present. Elma Beatriz Rosado, the widow of slain independence hero Filiberto Ojeda Ríos, took part.

A broad range of artists, personalities and public figures also supported the event, such as actress Nydia Velázquez; television comedian Silverio Pérez; filmmaker Pedro Muñiz; María Dolores Fernós, from the Office of Puerto Rican Woman; Pedro García, the mayor of Hormigueros where Filiberto Ojeda Ríos was assassinated; and others.

Representatives of the media who had been beaten and sprayed with pepper gas during the Feb. 10 raids—which further outraged public opinion against the FBI—participated in the demonstration.

The public mood has been such that on Feb. 24, the Catholic archbishop of San Juan, Roberto González Nieves, publicly criticized the Federal Bureau of Investigation, saying, “The recent FBI raids against pro-independence activists were deplorable.”

In light of the assassination of Ojeda Ríos and the recent FBI raids, there is a growing sentiment in Puerto Rico against the FBI presence on this island nation, which has been a de facto U.S. colony since 1898.

Pedro Muñiz, moderator of the short rally that followed the march, told the crowd: “Just like in Iraq, they invaded our homes and offices supposedly looking for weapons of mass destruction, claiming they are defending democracy. Just as they lied about Iraq they are lying about Puerto Rico. They are the real terrorists and should get out.”