Ponce massacre

The Massacre of Ponce is one of the darkest and bloodiest events in the history of Puerto Rico. On March 21, 1937 the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party organized in the south of Ponce to demonstrate for the release of imprisoned nationalist Pedro Albizu Campos and the Puerto Rican independence from the United States.

Chronology of events

Days before the protest, the Nationalist Party had received a permit for the demonstration. The governor of Puerto Rico, General Blanton Winship wanted to withdraw its permission. Winships mission in serving the U.S. government was to suppress the independence movement that had gained momentum since the elections of 1932 and some violent incidents. For inexplicable reasons, the police circled the demonstrators and opened fire. 21 Puerto Ricans were killed and 200 were injured. One of the dying protesters wrote with his blood the message: "Viva la República. Abajo los asesinos "on a wall. A grand jury could Winship not prove guilt. The lawyers, however, were appointed by the governor, which might influence their judgment in his favor.