Grito de Lares
The Grito de Lares ( Lares Cry ) was a revolt against Spanish rule in Puerto Rico, which took place in Lares on September 23, 1868.
Prehistory
Middle of the 19th century were in Puerto Rico, many supporters of independence and other people who called for liberal reforms, was arrested and exiled. Puerto Rico suffered at this time from a severe economic crisis since the mercantilist Spain increased the tariffs and taxes on most imported and export goods. The Spaniard needed this money to fund their troops who fought for the reconquest of the Dominican Republic. Out of frustration at the lack of political and economic freedom and anger about the ongoing oppression on the island, the independence movement was planning an armed rebellion.
The uprising
Planning phase
The Grito de Lares took place on September 23, 1868, but has been long been planned by a group led by Dr. Ramón Emeterio Betances and Segundo Ruiz Belvis, who on January 6, 1868 from their exile in the Dominican Republic, the revolutionary committee Comité Revolucionario de Puerto Rico founded. Betances authored several comments ( proclamas ) in which he accused the exploitation of the Puerto Ricans by the Spanish colonial system and called for an immediate uprising. These statements soon spread over the whole island, whereupon organized local dissident groups. In the same year wrote the poet Lola Rodríguez de Tió - inspired by Betances ' desire for independence of Puerto Rico - the patriotic text to the existing tune of La Borinquena. Mathias Brugman, Mariana Bracetti and Manuel Rojas taught a secret cells of the Revolutionary Committee, where they from all walks of members - landowners, merchants, businessmen, peasants and slaves - brought together. Most of them were born on the island ( criollos ). The critical economic situation served together with the increasing oppression by the Spaniards as a catalyst for rebellion. As a bulwark of the movement, the cities in the mountains served in the west of the island.
According to the original plan of the uprising on 29 September to begin in Camuy, but since the Spanish authorities discovered the plan, the rebels had to bring forward the date. On the night of September 19 the Spanish captain Juan Castañón heard in Quebradillas two rebels talk about the plan: On September 29 the troops in Camuy should be neutralized by poisoning the bread supplies. Since September 29th was a holiday for most workers, should take place simultaneous uprisings in Camuy and other places. Gain, there should be through the ship El Telégrafo and more than 3,000 mercenaries. Castañón warned his commander in Arecibo and the leader of the cell Lanzador del Norte in Camuy were arrested.
Proclamation of the Republic of Puerto Rico
After the first plan had failed, it was agreed to strike in Lares on September 24. Approximately 400 to 600 rebels ( Spanish journalist José Perez Morís speaks of almost 1000) gathered on that day in the hacienda of Manuel Rojas near Pezuela on the outskirts of Lares. The poorly trained and armed rebels reached the city on horseback and on foot around midnight. They raided the local shops and offices that were in possession of the native Spaniards ( peninsulares ), and conquered the city hall. The rebels took the Spanish merchants and local government representatives, which they regard as enemies of the fatherland, caught. Then they entered the church. There they fortified the woven of Bracetti revolution flag on the high altar, as a sign of the beginning of the revolution. At two clock at night the Republic of Puerto Rico was proclaimed under the presidency of Francisco Ramirez Medina. All slaves who had joined the movement were declared free citizens.
Confrontation in San Sebastián
The rebels made themselves then on their way to conquer the next town, San Sebastián del Pepino. The Spanish military, however, the group surprised with strong resistance, which caused great unrest among the armed rebels. Under the leadership of Manuel Rojas they retreated to Lares. On the orders of Governor Julian Pavia, the Spaniards surrounded the rebels and ended the rebellion quickly.
Conviction and amnesty
Around 475 rebels were arrested, among them Manuel Rojas and Juan Rius Rivera, who later became Commander in Chief of the Cuban Liberation Army. On November 17, a military court sentenced all the prisoners for treason and sedition to death. In order to appease the already tense atmosphere on the island, but the next governor José Laureano Sanz dictated 1869, generale amnesty, after which all the prisoners were released.
Aftermath
Although the revolt failed themselves, they had positive consequences, as the Spaniards on the island granted greater political autonomy.
Spanish journalist José Pérez Morís wrote a comprehensive book on the Grito de Lares and its affiliates, which is the most accurate representation of the events despite its negative prejudices from a historical perspective. From an ideological point Pérez's publications are still used by opponents of independence to denounce the excessive glorification in her eyes a small revolt. Recent studies show, however, that the Grito more sympathizers - and a more extensive logistics - had, as the duration of the events suggested. In the years following the Grito, there were small protests and skirmishes between independence and representatives of the Spanish authorities in Las Marías, Adjuntas, Utuado, Vieques, Bayamón, Toa Baja and Ciales (Palo Seco ). Historians see in the length of Pérez's comments compared to the actual reports in his book as a reference. Had the revolt really as insignificant as he claims, it would need no such comprehensive, negative treatment.
Grito de Lares as a holiday
To celebrate the Grito as a holiday was outlawed by the Spanish and American authorities in Puerto Rico at different times. The Spanish ban was in force when their colonial rule in Puerto Rico formally ended until 1899. Consequently, the Grito fell apart from small annual celebrations of the people of Lares largely forgotten. However, supporters of independence as José de Diego and Luis Torres Lloréns scheduled for a public holiday. Diego applied for example in the case of the Puerto Rican legislature the establishment of the University of Puerto Rico in Mayagüez on 23 September 1911 so that this event took place on the anniversary of the Grito.
In the late 1920s organized members of the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico from historic occasion and for fund raising small commemorations in Lares. When Pedro Albizu Campos took over the presidency of the party, he replaced the frivolous activities ( such as the annual dance) by rituals that celebrated the events dignified. He commented as follows: ". Lares is Holy Land and as such must attend to it by kneeling " ( " Lares there Tierra Santa, y como tal, debe entrarse a ella de rodillas. " )
A central role in the rituals played a tamarind tree Simón Bolívar of land in Venezuela, the Chilean writer Gabriela Mistral gave the Albizu family. The tree was planted in the Plaza de la Revolución with soil from the eighteen other Spanish-speaking Latin American countries. Albizu was the Plaza provide a living symbol of solidarity with the struggle for freedom and independence, Bolívar had initiated ( the promised during a visit to Vieques to help the Puerto Rican independence movement, but because of their own power struggles never had the opportunity to place). The bitter-sweet fruit of the tree also symbolized the efforts that were needed to achieve independence. In this respect, there are parallels between the Tamarindo de Don Pedro and the Oak of Guernica ( Gernikako Arbola ) in the Basque Country.
1969 declared Governor Luis A. Ferré, a supporter of the state and political posers, September 23 a national holiday. Lares was declared by the Institute of Puerto Rican culture to a Historic Site and is considered the birthplace of Puerto Rican nationalism.
- Leader of the Grito de Lares
Segundo Ruiz Belvis
Lola Rodríguez de Tió
Francisco Ramirez Medina