Demonstrations In New York and in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Pro-Independence, Socialist, Student and Peace Groups Unite to Confront Repressive Wave
(January 2, 2008, from press release)
The F.B.I. continues its attacks against our people and especially against the Puerto Rican independence movement in Puerto Rico and the United States. In mid-December, 2007, three young fighters in the struggle to get the U.S. Navy out of Vieques, activists in defense of our culture in the U.S., and activists for national independence were subpoenaed to appear before a Federal Grand Jury.
The colonial authorities issued subpoenas to Christopher Torres, Tania Frontera and Julio Antonio Pabon to appear before the Grand Jury on January 11, 2008 in the New York jurisdiction.
The organizations that have signed this statement want to alert the people of Puerto Rico about this new wave of persecution by the F.B.I. against the movement fighting for independence. Never will we forget the assassination of Filiberto Ojeda Rios, which demonstrated the extent of the repressive measures that this agency is willing to take.
For this reason the independence movement organizes itself to carry out a series of public activities that will demonstrate the denunciation of the people against this persecution. We reject and denounce the presence of the Federal Grand Jury and the F.B.I. as instruments to destroy the independence movement and all the causes that we are involved in. We will continue forward in the struggle for independence and to demand the respect that we deserve as a people.
NO to the federal presence in Puerto Rico! No collaboration with the Grand Jury! We denounce the attacks and assaults of the F.B.I.!
January 10, 2008, 5:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
Rally in Front of the U.S. Federal Court in Chardon, Hato Rey
Signatories:
Comité Pro Derechos Humanos de Puerto Rico
(Puerto Rico Human Rights Committee)
Consejo de Estudiantes de Ciencias Sociales de la URP, Rio Piedras,
(Social Sciences Student Council of the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras)
Consejo de Estudiantes de Rio Piedras
(Student Council of Rio Piedras)
Coordinadora Caribeña y Latinoamericana
(Caribbean and Latin American Coordinating Committee)
Coordinadora Continental Bolivariana
(Bolivarian Continental Coordinating Committee)
Coordinadora Nacional Vigilias Filiberto Ojeda Ríos
(Filiberto Ojeda Rios Vigils National Coordinating Committee)
Federación Universitaria Pro Independencia
(University Pro-Independence Federation)
Frente Socialista
(Socialist Front)
Grito de los Excluidos
(Outcry of the Excluded)
La Nueva Escuela
(The New School)
Movimiento Independentista Nacional Hostosiano
(Hostosiano Nacional Independence Movement)
Movimiento Socialista de Trabajadores
(Socialist Workers Movement)
Organización Socialista Internacional
(Internationalist Socialist Organization)
Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño
(Puerto Rican Independence Party)
Partido Revolucionario de los Trabajadores-Macheteros
(Revolutionary Party of the Workers-Macheteros)
Union de Juventudes Socialistas
(Union of Socialist Youth)