Nelson's book on Puerto Rico's Dark History exposes the work of US Imperialism!

 

“The youth must defend the country with the weapons of knowledge.”

- Pedro Albizu Campos

Every nation on this planet has the right to self-determination. Every foreign government has the right to implement any political and economic ideology with the support from the people. However, no country around the world should be under siege and dictated by any foreign nation, especially by an imperialistic nation like the United States of America.

As a child, I remembered seeing a black and white color poster of what I would describe as an angry man shouting at a crowd of people while standing on a podium. With dark pierce eyes and having a passionate characteristic look, the expressions on the people's faces standing there looked inspired with hope and determination. Throughout my childhood, up to my adolescent years, this same iconic figure still appears in many Puerto Rican bars and restaurants in the Tri-State area of New York City. At that time, I never fully understood why this particular man was so important within the Latin community. The man’s face on every posters, flyers, t-shirts, and mural I came across in many Latin communities was the Revolutionary Pedro Albizu Campos.

Like many Revolutionaries all around the world, they fought against colonialism and the systemic economic caste that oppresses their people. Pedro Albizu Campos who was one of the main leaders and organizers of the Puerto Rican National Party fought for the independence of Puerto Rico.

Revolutionaries from Latin America and the Caribbeans were and still are being mischaracterized and misunderstood in history books. It is also sad to say that many Revolutionaries like Pedro Albizu Campos are no longer being discussed in the community or just simply hidden from LatinX and Caribbean academic studies. Can it be because of the fear of red-baiting from the US propaganda machine? Can it be the fear of actual systemic change in Puerto Rico that keeps many of us in the dark?  One thing for sure, a  radical and critical way of thinking to study and analyze the situation of Puerto Rico, both past and present is urgently needed.  

A book that I highly recommend reading which I believe gives a great overall summary history of the many movements in Puerto Rico against oppressive components and mechanisms like the Gag Law policy, FBI terror raids, and torture programs all supported by J. Edgar Hoover and US Government. That book is called the "War Against All Puerto Ricans: Revolution and Terror in America Colony"

From the Ponce Massacre to the US Bombing Campaign on the small island of Vieques(Puerto Rico's Land), and to the terror tactics unleashed on the poor working community throughout the island, the book sheds light on this dark history era in Puerto Rico.

Author Nelson A. Denis does not hold back on tells it how it is and how it relates to Puerto Rico's Political and Economic today. 

I believe this book needs to be studied in Latin America and Caribbean Academic studies in the US. I thank the author for his fantastic work and hope that many readers buy or borrow a copy of Nelson’s compelling book.

by César Omar Sánchez. Community organizer, New York/New Jersey Cuba Si Coalition, Advisory Board Member of ProLibertad: Free All Political Prisoners Campaign.

Radical Imagination, Radical Humanity - In a time of social decay is a must

Photograph of the July 25th El Barrio Freedom March!  The photos were provided by Radhames Morales, of the ProLibertad Advisory Board and Fuerza De la Revolucion Dominicana, and Benjamin Ramos, of ProLibertad.

“Revolutionary Moral”

Our involvement in housing and education is how we first developed a sense of humanity. Our children were part of the organization. In order for us to go to the meetings, somebody had to take care of them. And we would all do that. Without anybody teaching us about the “socialist man and woman,” we started doing it. We did not start out by studying the theory and consciously implementing it. On the contrary, our theory developed through the relationships, the human relationships that evolved day-to-day as we dealt with issues that affected the community. That was not contrary to Marxism; it reaffirmed Marxism. We learned that later on.

 - Federico Lora, former member and founder of El Comité-MINP

    As I sit home on this rainy summer day in August, I became compelled to type and express my admiration of one of many books I read this summer of 2020 during this Global Pandemic. Oh yes, face mask and social distancing has become daily routine and norm for us all, but that does not mean we should shut ourselves away from a good read. One book I found to be insightful, inspirational, and powerful in ways that helped expand my social consciousness even greater was “Radical Imagination, Radical Humanity” by author and activist Rose Muzio.

An almost forgotten history within the LatinX Community of the Puerto Rican’s Political Activism in New York which I believe needs to be told. After reading Muzio’s book it gave me a broader sense of urban LatinX history within the context of social justice activism.

Too many times scholars and historians’ praises high profile political figures and pro-establishment institutions but tend to forget about other powerful grassroots movements that have shaken the US politics apparatus. In the 70s one radical organization that demanded change for a better way living for their community was the Marxist-Leninist radical left organization called El Comité-MINP.

El Comité-MINP (Movimento de Izquierda Nacional Puertorriqueño) was a Puerto Rican National Left Movement that inspired a whole new generation of progressive and left movements in the LatinX community today. I was able to understand the motivations and their commitment to fighting for public housing, education, and of course a FREE Puerto Rico under the grips of the US Empire.

The book tells the huge significant gains El Comité-MINP was able to accomplish but also the difficulties within the organization that ultimately ended on closing the doors to the public. However, their Revolutionary spirit lives on within new organizations inspired by organizations like El Comité-MINP.

I highly recommend this book to those that want to know more about Puerto Rican movements such as El Comité-MINP that no doubt has shed a light on our corrupt political and economic system in the United States.

Where to purchase the book:

https://www.sunypress.edu/p-6333-radical-imagination-radical-hum.aspx

https://www.revolutionbooks.org/book/9781438463544

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/radical-imagination-radical-humanity-rose-muzio/1125050126

https://www.amazon.com/Radical-Imagination-Humanity-Political-Activism/dp/1438463553

by César Omar Sánchez. Community organizer, New York/New Jersey Cuba Si Coalition, Advisory Board Member of ProLibertad: Free All Political Prisoners Campaign.

North of Havana...A must read!

By César Omar Sánchez

This past holiday season, I met and spoke with author, lawyer Martin Garbus on his new recent book “North of Havana: The Untold Story of Dirty Politics, Secrets Diplomacy, and The Trial of The Cuba Five”. The book exposes the lies, deceptions, and ongoing Anti-Castro propaganda that still exists today in Miami and throughout the US. It tells the story of how since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, Cuban exiles and the US have not forgiven Fidel Castro and the people of Cuba to retake what was rightfully theirs…their own country.

Fidel Castro passed away in 2016 and his brother Raul Castro who stepped down as president, and yet many Anti-Castro extreme right-wing Cuba exiles are continuing to destabilize the country using all types of methods for so long now. 

Martin mentions how the mainstream media, along with the US Government continues to fund journalists to undermine Cuba's government by distorting the facts about US secret involvement in Cuba. He also exposes the US support of terrorist individuals like Luis Posada Carriles and Orlando Bosch who were responsible for many deaths, especially a bombing of an airliner. All this information was taken from CIA’s own heavily documentation which broke the story to the public. Other methods of undermining the Cuba Revolution are the funding of organization like CANF (Cuban American National Foundation) that continues to use their financial power to influence the US government to impose an illegal economic blockade. At the time CANF pressured both political parties, Republicans and Democrats on tightening up the economic Illegal blockade like the Helms-Burton act with hopes the people of Cuba will rise-up and overthrow their socialist government out of desperation, but their plan failed. 

Other terrorist organizations like the Alpha 66 who were constantly attacking Cuba from the coast of South Florida also failed as well. It is important to point out, as Martin Garbus’s book brilliant does, it is that over the years militant exiles have been linked to everything from downing other airliners to hit-and-run commando raids on the Cuban coast to hotel bombings in Havana. They've killed Cuban diplomats and made numerous attempts on Castro's life in the past.

Martin Garbus speaking at the People's Forum at the anniversary and celebration of
the freedom of the Cuban Five

Flyer designed by César Omar Sánchez

Other organization provocateurs like “Brothers to the Rescue” led by Cuban exiled José Basulto was used to provoking the Cuban Government after illegally flying into Cuban Airspace. This provocation was against International Law that ultimately led to the shootdown of two of his aircraft by the Cuban Government who were just defending their nation. 

The Cuban Five, who were sent by the Cuban government to spy on these organizations based in Miami were arrested in September 1998 from US officials. The story of the Cuban Five by Martin Garbus is, in my opinion, is close and accurate of what occurred during the trial of these five brave souls who were defending their country from US Imperialism. 

There is so much information on this book I just don’t want to give it away. This new year take a trip to your local bookstore or simply just download the digital book. No doubt, this is a book worth reading!

by César Omar Sánchez. Community organizer, New York/New Jersey Cuba Si Coalition, Advisory Board Member of ProLibertad: Free All Political Prisoners Campaign.