The Don Pedro Albizu Campos Image
The iconic image of Puerto Rican nationalist leader Don Pedro Albizu Campos (1891-1965) has proven to be very popular not just on tee shirts but on print, artwork, films, books, etc. So where does it come from? The picture was taken in 1936 in San Juan during a rally by the Nationalist Party.
Don Pedro Albizu Campos was the president of the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico from 1930 to 1965. He graduated from Harvard with a law degree, after having begun his undergraduate studies at the University of Vermont and transferring to Harvard University. His leadership of the Nationalist Party was known for its uncompromising stance for the independence of the archipelago comprised of Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra and other smaller islands surrounding the coasts of Puerto Rico.
On April 16, 1936, the Nationalists were gathered in the Plaza De Armas in San Juan to commemorate the birth of Jose de Diego. After the American invasion, de Diego combined a brilliant literary career in poetry with public service, and became known as the “Father of the Modern Puerto Rican Independence Movement.” Among his most noted poetry books are: Pomarrosas, Jovillos, Cantos de Rebeldía and Cantos del Pitirre.
The Nationalist were gathered at 7:00 in the morning. Cars brought people from all parts of the island. The cadetes de la republica (Party militants) were lined up, more than 200 strong, in their black shirts and white pants carrying the flags of their battalions and the flag of Puerto Rico. Don Pedro arrived and was greeted with great applause. The procession then headed out. They marched from the Capitol area through the streets of San Juan to the Cathedral, the cemetery and finally to Plaza Baldorioty where a grandstand was erected for the speakers.
As you can see this was a very well organized and attended event. The Nationalists didn't play!
Don Pedro was introduced by the sub-secretary-general of the Party J. M. Toro Nazario. The audience gathered around the grandstand and Toro Nazario spoke..."The nation is facing its enemies and is ready to defend its ideals to recover our sovereignty at every occasion and instance, be they favorable or unfavorable."
Don Pedro spoke and mesmerized the crowd of Nationalists and onlookers. Among his words were: "Men will be remembered by their words, by their ideas, because the word is a symbol of the eternal. De Diego represents in Puerto Rico the apostle preacher. We represent the fulfillment of that duty that he imposed on us." "In the process of creating it's empire, the United States has established the dirtiest plutocratic tyranny that history has known." And this is my favorite: "We are not a bloody or a gangster movement. If we say that our rights are more important than our lives and to respect Puerto Rico's right to its independence it is necessary to shed Puerto Rican blood and North American blood, then from that mix, we will create the independence of Puerto Rico." It was during this speech that the photo was taken. It was then published in
Editor's Note: Most of this information is found in the book "Pedro Albizu Campos, Obras Escogidas 1923-1936, TOMO III" Recompilación, introducción y notas por J. Benjamin Torres
Read more about Don Pedro at Latinopia.
Get the shirts at my shop, CEMITHREADS via ETSY!
Don Pedro Albizu Campos was the president of the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico from 1930 to 1965. He graduated from Harvard with a law degree, after having begun his undergraduate studies at the University of Vermont and transferring to Harvard University. His leadership of the Nationalist Party was known for its uncompromising stance for the independence of the archipelago comprised of Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra and other smaller islands surrounding the coasts of Puerto Rico.
On April 16, 1936, the Nationalists were gathered in the Plaza De Armas in San Juan to commemorate the birth of Jose de Diego. After the American invasion, de Diego combined a brilliant literary career in poetry with public service, and became known as the “Father of the Modern Puerto Rican Independence Movement.” Among his most noted poetry books are: Pomarrosas, Jovillos, Cantos de Rebeldía and Cantos del Pitirre.
The Nationalist were gathered at 7:00 in the morning. Cars brought people from all parts of the island. The cadetes de la republica (Party militants) were lined up, more than 200 strong, in their black shirts and white pants carrying the flags of their battalions and the flag of Puerto Rico. Don Pedro arrived and was greeted with great applause. The procession then headed out. They marched from the Capitol area through the streets of San Juan to the Cathedral, the cemetery and finally to Plaza Baldorioty where a grandstand was erected for the speakers.
As you can see this was a very well organized and attended event. The Nationalists didn't play!
Don Pedro was introduced by the sub-secretary-general of the Party J. M. Toro Nazario. The audience gathered around the grandstand and Toro Nazario spoke..."The nation is facing its enemies and is ready to defend its ideals to recover our sovereignty at every occasion and instance, be they favorable or unfavorable."
Don Pedro spoke and mesmerized the crowd of Nationalists and onlookers. Among his words were: "Men will be remembered by their words, by their ideas, because the word is a symbol of the eternal. De Diego represents in Puerto Rico the apostle preacher. We represent the fulfillment of that duty that he imposed on us." "In the process of creating it's empire, the United States has established the dirtiest plutocratic tyranny that history has known." And this is my favorite: "We are not a bloody or a gangster movement. If we say that our rights are more important than our lives and to respect Puerto Rico's right to its independence it is necessary to shed Puerto Rican blood and North American blood, then from that mix, we will create the independence of Puerto Rico." It was during this speech that the photo was taken. It was then published in
Editor's Note: Most of this information is found in the book "Pedro Albizu Campos, Obras Escogidas 1923-1936, TOMO III" Recompilación, introducción y notas por J. Benjamin Torres
Read more about Don Pedro at Latinopia.
Get the shirts at my shop, CEMITHREADS via ETSY!
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