Ponce massacre
Encyclopedia
The Ponce massacre occurred on 21 March 1937 when a peaceful march in Ponce, Puerto Rico
, by the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
commemorating the ending of slavery in Puerto Rico by the governing Spanish National Assembly in 1873, and coinciding with a protest against the incarceration by the government of the United States of America government of nationalist leader Pedro Albizu Campos
on sedition
charges, was fired upon by the Insular Police, resulting in the death of 17 unarmed civilians and two policemen and the wounding of some 235 civilians, including women and children. The Insular Police, a force somewhat resembling the National Guard, answered to orders of the U.S. appointed governor of Puerto Rico, General Blanton Winship. Ultimately, responsibility fell on Winship, who is considered to have ordered the massacre
. It was the biggest massacre in Puerto Rican history.
Days before, march organizers received permits for a peaceful protest from the municipality of Ponce, under Mayor José Tormos Diego
. Upon learning of the planned protest, however, the colonial governor of Puerto Rico
at the time, General Blanton Winship, who had been appointed by US president Franklin Delano Roosevelt, demanded the immediate withdrawal of the permits. They were withdrawn a short time before the protest was scheduled to begin.
Colonel Orbeta, Chief of Police under governor Winship, went to Ponce concentrating police units from across the island, among which he included all the machine gunners in the island. For many days, the government had planned to restrict the activities of the nationalists and their leader, Pedro Albizu Campos
.
Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico
, Chief of Police Guillermo Soldevilla, with 14 policemen, placed himself in front of the marchers. Chief Perez Segarra and Sgt. Rafael Molina, commanding nine policemen who were armed with Thompson submachine gun
s and tear gas bombs, stood in the back. Chief of Police Antonio Bernardi, heading 11 policemen armed with machine guns, stood in the east; and another group of 12 police, armed with rifles, was placed in the west. According to some reports, police numbered "over 200 heavily armed" guards.
As "La Borinqueña
", Puerto Rico's national song, was being played, the demonstrators began to march. They were then fired upon for over 15 minutes by the police from their four positions. About 235 were wounded and nineteen were killed. The dead included 17 men, one woman, and a seven-year-old girl. Some of the dead were demonstrators, while others were simply passers-by. At the present time, only two survivors are still alive, Fernando Velez and his sister Beatriz Velez, nephew and niece of patriots Emeli Velez and Erasmo Vando. Many were chased by the police and shot or clubbed at the entrance of their houses as they tried to escape. Others were taken from their hiding places and killed. Leopold Tormes, a member of the Puerto Rico legislature, told reporters how a policeman murdered a nationalist with his bare hands. Dr. Jose N. Gandara
, one of the physicians who assisted the wounded, testified that wounded people running away were shot, and that many were again wounded by the clubs and bare fists of the police. No arms were found in the hands of the civilians wounded, nor on the dead ones. About 150 of the demonstrators were arrested immediately afterward; they were later released on bail.
Upon his arrival from Washington, D.C., Luis Muñoz Marin
traveled to the City of Ponce to investigate the massacre. After examining the photograph taken by Carlos Torres Morales and which still had not been made public, he wrote to Ruth Hampton, an official at the United States Department of the Interior
, and stated that the photograph clearly showed that the policeman were not shooting at the uniformed Nationalists, but at a terrorized crowd in full flight.
A government investigation into the incident drew few conclusions. A second, independent investigation ordered by the US Commission for Civil Rights (May 5, 1937) led by Arthur Garfield Hays
(a member of the ACLU) with Fulgencio Pinero, Emilio Belaval, Jose Davila Rice, Antonio Ayuyo Valdivieso, Manuel Diaz Garcia, and Franscisco M. Zeno, concluded that the events on March 21 constituted a massacre. The report harshly criticized the repressive tactics and massive civil rights violations by the administration of Governor Blanton Winship.
After viewing the picture of the massacre taken by Carlos Torres Morales, Hayes in his report to the American Civil Liberties Union wondered why the government in its investigation did not use the photograph which was among two that were widely published. According to Hayes, in the photograph it can be observed that 18 armed policeman at the corner of Aurora and Marina streets were ready to fire against a group of innocent bystanders. The image also showed the white smoke coming out of the barrel of a policeman's revolver as he fired upon the people. His Committee was unable to understand why the pictured policeman and the others fired directly at the crowd and not at the Cadets.
Luis Muñoz Marin
reacting to the evidence said that the photograph taken by Carlos Torres Morales "is remarkable in that the policemen are not shooting at the uniformed nationalists but at a terrorized crowd in full flight."
. It says:
The statements can be found in:
, the Secretary was attorney Vicente Géigel Polanco, and the association's legal counsel was attorney Ernesto Ramos Antonini
. Luis Muñoz Marin
and many leaders from Ponce, including attorney Pérez Marchand and some of the members of the Hays Commission, were also among the founders.
, an agency of the Government of Puerto Rico
, runs the Ponce Massacre Museum
, located at the intersection where the events took place (corner of Marina and Aurora streets). It houses photographs and various artifacts from the Ponce Massacre. A section of the museum is dedicated to Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos
.
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
, by the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
The Puerto Rican Nationalist Party was founded on September 17, 1922. Its main objective is to work for Puerto Rican Independence.In 1919, José Coll y Cuchí, a member of the Union Party of Puerto Rico, felt that the Union Party was not doing enough for the cause of Puerto Rican independence and he...
commemorating the ending of slavery in Puerto Rico by the governing Spanish National Assembly in 1873, and coinciding with a protest against the incarceration by the government of the United States of America government of nationalist leader Pedro Albizu Campos
Pedro Albizu Campos
Don Pedro Albizu Campos was a Puerto Rican politician and one of the leading figures in the Puerto Rican independence movement. He was the leader and president of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party from 1930 until his death...
on sedition
Sedition
In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent to lawful authority. Sedition may include any...
charges, was fired upon by the Insular Police, resulting in the death of 17 unarmed civilians and two policemen and the wounding of some 235 civilians, including women and children. The Insular Police, a force somewhat resembling the National Guard, answered to orders of the U.S. appointed governor of Puerto Rico, General Blanton Winship. Ultimately, responsibility fell on Winship, who is considered to have ordered the massacre
Massacre
A massacre is an event with a heavy death toll.Massacre may also refer to:-Entertainment:*Massacre , a DC Comics villain*Massacre , a 1932 drama film starring Richard Barthelmess*Massacre, a 1956 Western starring Dane Clark...
. It was the biggest massacre in Puerto Rican history.
Chronology of events
José Tormos Diego
José Tormos Diego was a Puerto Rican politician and Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico, from 1937 to 1941. He is best remembered for rebuilding the historic Teatro La Perla in 1940.-Mayoral selection:...
. Upon learning of the planned protest, however, the colonial governor of Puerto Rico
Governor of Puerto Rico
The Governor of Puerto Rico is the Head of Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Since 1948, the Governor has been elected by the people of Puerto Rico...
at the time, General Blanton Winship, who had been appointed by US president Franklin Delano Roosevelt, demanded the immediate withdrawal of the permits. They were withdrawn a short time before the protest was scheduled to begin.
Colonel Orbeta, Chief of Police under governor Winship, went to Ponce concentrating police units from across the island, among which he included all the machine gunners in the island. For many days, the government had planned to restrict the activities of the nationalists and their leader, Pedro Albizu Campos
Pedro Albizu Campos
Don Pedro Albizu Campos was a Puerto Rican politician and one of the leading figures in the Puerto Rican independence movement. He was the leader and president of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party from 1930 until his death...
.
Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico
Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico
Juana Díaz is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the southern coast of the island, south of Jayuya, Ciales, Orocovis and Villalba; east of Ponce; and west of Coamo and Santa Isabel and the Caribbean Sea to the south. Juana Díaz is spread over 12 wards and Juana Diaz Pueblo...
, Chief of Police Guillermo Soldevilla, with 14 policemen, placed himself in front of the marchers. Chief Perez Segarra and Sgt. Rafael Molina, commanding nine policemen who were armed with Thompson submachine gun
Thompson submachine gun
The Thompson is an American submachine gun, invented by John T. Thompson in 1919, that became infamous during the Prohibition era. It was a common sight in the media of the time, being used by both law enforcement officers and criminals...
s and tear gas bombs, stood in the back. Chief of Police Antonio Bernardi, heading 11 policemen armed with machine guns, stood in the east; and another group of 12 police, armed with rifles, was placed in the west. According to some reports, police numbered "over 200 heavily armed" guards.
As "La Borinqueña
La Borinqueña
La Borinqueña is the official anthem of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. After Puerto Rico became the "The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico" in 1952, the first elected governor, Luis Muñoz Marín, signed law #2 of July 24, 1952 that stated that the musical composition known as "La Borinqueña" was to...
", Puerto Rico's national song, was being played, the demonstrators began to march. They were then fired upon for over 15 minutes by the police from their four positions. About 235 were wounded and nineteen were killed. The dead included 17 men, one woman, and a seven-year-old girl. Some of the dead were demonstrators, while others were simply passers-by. At the present time, only two survivors are still alive, Fernando Velez and his sister Beatriz Velez, nephew and niece of patriots Emeli Velez and Erasmo Vando. Many were chased by the police and shot or clubbed at the entrance of their houses as they tried to escape. Others were taken from their hiding places and killed. Leopold Tormes, a member of the Puerto Rico legislature, told reporters how a policeman murdered a nationalist with his bare hands. Dr. Jose N. Gandara
José N. Gándara
Dr. José Narciso Gándara Cartagena was a Puerto Rican physician. He is best remembered for having led teams of doctors in the medical care necessary to threat the hundreds of wounded of the infamous Ponce Massacre that occurred on Palm Sunday, 1937, in Ponce, Puerto Rico, at the hands of the...
, one of the physicians who assisted the wounded, testified that wounded people running away were shot, and that many were again wounded by the clubs and bare fists of the police. No arms were found in the hands of the civilians wounded, nor on the dead ones. About 150 of the demonstrators were arrested immediately afterward; they were later released on bail.
Upon his arrival from Washington, D.C., Luis Muñoz Marin
Luis Muñoz Marín
Don José Luis Alberto Muñoz Marín was a Puerto Rican poet, journalist, and politician. Regarded as the "father of modern Puerto Rico," he was the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico. Muñoz Marín was the son of Luis Muñoz Rivera, a renowned autonomist leader...
traveled to the City of Ponce to investigate the massacre. After examining the photograph taken by Carlos Torres Morales and which still had not been made public, he wrote to Ruth Hampton, an official at the United States Department of the Interior
United States Department of the Interior
The United States Department of the Interior is the United States federal executive department of the U.S. government responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources, and the administration of programs relating to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native...
, and stated that the photograph clearly showed that the policeman were not shooting at the uniformed Nationalists, but at a terrorized crowd in full flight.
The investigation and the Hays Commission
Subsequent investigations of the event reached conflicting conclusions on whether the police or the marchers fired the first shots. Governor Winship pressured the district's attorney in charge of the investigation, and requested that the public prosecutor from Ponce, Rafael Pérez Marchand, arrested more nationalists and that no charges were made against the police. Perez Marchand resigned when he was not allowed by the governor to conduct a proper investigation.A government investigation into the incident drew few conclusions. A second, independent investigation ordered by the US Commission for Civil Rights (May 5, 1937) led by Arthur Garfield Hays
Arthur Garfield Hays
Arthur Garfield Hays was a lawyer born in Rochester, New York. His father and mother, both of German descent, belonged to prospering families in the clothing manufacturing industry...
(a member of the ACLU) with Fulgencio Pinero, Emilio Belaval, Jose Davila Rice, Antonio Ayuyo Valdivieso, Manuel Diaz Garcia, and Franscisco M. Zeno, concluded that the events on March 21 constituted a massacre. The report harshly criticized the repressive tactics and massive civil rights violations by the administration of Governor Blanton Winship.
After viewing the picture of the massacre taken by Carlos Torres Morales, Hayes in his report to the American Civil Liberties Union wondered why the government in its investigation did not use the photograph which was among two that were widely published. According to Hayes, in the photograph it can be observed that 18 armed policeman at the corner of Aurora and Marina streets were ready to fire against a group of innocent bystanders. The image also showed the white smoke coming out of the barrel of a policeman's revolver as he fired upon the people. His Committee was unable to understand why the pictured policeman and the others fired directly at the crowd and not at the Cadets.
Luis Muñoz Marin
Luis Muñoz Marín
Don José Luis Alberto Muñoz Marín was a Puerto Rican poet, journalist, and politician. Regarded as the "father of modern Puerto Rico," he was the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico. Muñoz Marín was the son of Luis Muñoz Rivera, a renowned autonomist leader...
reacting to the evidence said that the photograph taken by Carlos Torres Morales "is remarkable in that the policemen are not shooting at the uniformed nationalists but at a terrorized crowd in full flight."
Casualties
The following is a list of the people who were killed in the Ponce Massacre:- Cotal Nieves, Juan Delgado
- Hernandez del Rosario, Maria
- Jimenez Morales, Luis
- Loyola Perez, Ceferino (insular police)
- Maldonado, Georgina (7-year-old)
- Marquez Telechea, Bolivar
- Ortiz Toro, Ramon
- Perea, Ulpiano
- Pietrantoni, Juan Antonio
- Reyes Rivera, Juan
- Rivera Lopez, Conrado
- Rodriguez Figueras, Ivan G.
- Rodriguez Mendez, Jenaro
- Rodriguez Rivera, Pedro Juan
- Rosario, Obdulio
- Sanchez Perez, Eusebio (insular police)
- Santos Ortiz, Juan
- Torres Gregory, Juan
- Velez Torres, Teodoro
Recorded in the Congressional Record
The Ponce massacre was reverberated in the U.S. Congress House of Representatives by Congressman John T. Bernard. A record of his speech is found in the Congressional RecordCongressional Record
The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published by the United States Government Printing Office, and is issued daily when the United States Congress is in session. Indexes are issued approximately every two weeks...
. It says:
- — Hon. Congressman John T. Bernard
The statements can be found in:
- Extension of Remarks of the Honorable Congressman John T. Bernard of Minnesota in the Congressional Record, 75th Congress, 1st Session, 14 April 1937, Volume 81:934-936;
- Harwood Hull, Clash Rekindles Puerto Rican Feud, New York Times, 28 March 1937, page 11;
- 7 Die in Puerto Rican Riot: 50 Injured as Police Fire on Fighting Nationalists, New York Times 22 March 1937, p. 1.
Attempt against Winship
Governor Winship decided to celebrate, with a military parade, the invasion of Puerto Rico on July 25, 1938, in the city of Ponce, a little over a year after the Ponce massacre. His intentions was to demonstrate that his "Law and Order" policy had been a successful one against the Nationalists. The parade was interrupted by a hail of bullets fired towards the grandstand, in an attempt to assassinate Winship, by alleged members of the Nationalist Party. It was the first time in Puerto Rican history that an attempt had been made against a governor. Although Winship had escaped unscathed, a total of 36 people were wounded and among the dead were National Guard Colonel Luis Irizarry and Nationalist Angel Esteban Antongiorgi. Several nationalists in the crowd were arrested and nine accused of participating in the attack. Even though the Nationalist Party officially distanced themselves from the attack and claimed that it had been the act of an isolated individual, the party was condemned to be overtaken by the momentous political events of that decade.Legacy
One of the by-products of the Ponce massacre and the Hays Commission was the creation in Puerto Rico of a chapter of the ACLU on May 21, 1937. It was named "Asociación Puertorriqueña de Libertades Civiles" (Puerto Rican Association of Civil Liberties). Its first president was Dr. Tomás Blanco, attorneys Felipe Colón Díaz and Dr. Antonio Fernós Isern were its vice-presidents, the treasurer was Inés María MendozaInés Mendoza
Inés María Mendoza Rivera de Muñoz Marín , was a former First Lady of Puerto Rico, teacher, writer and socialite. She was the second wife of Governor Luis Muñoz Marín.-Biography:...
, the Secretary was attorney Vicente Géigel Polanco, and the association's legal counsel was attorney Ernesto Ramos Antonini
Ernesto Ramos Antonini
Ernesto Ramos Antonini was the President of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico and co-founder of the Partido Popular Democrático de Puerto Rico .-Early years:...
. Luis Muñoz Marin
Luis Muñoz Marín
Don José Luis Alberto Muñoz Marín was a Puerto Rican poet, journalist, and politician. Regarded as the "father of modern Puerto Rico," he was the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico. Muñoz Marín was the son of Luis Muñoz Rivera, a renowned autonomist leader...
and many leaders from Ponce, including attorney Pérez Marchand and some of the members of the Hays Commission, were also among the founders.
Ponce Massacre Museum
The Institute of Puerto Rican CultureInstitute of Puerto Rican Culture
The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture , or ICP, for short, is an institution of the Government of Puerto Rico responsible for the establishment of the cultural policies required in order to study, preserve, promote, enrich, and diffuse the cultural values of Puerto Rico...
, an agency of the Government of Puerto Rico
Government of Puerto Rico
The Government of Puerto Rico is a republican form of government subject to U.S. jurisdiction and sovereignty. Its current powers are all delegated by the United States Congress and lack full protection under the United States Constitution...
, runs the Ponce Massacre Museum
Museo de la Masacre de Ponce
The Museo de la Masacre de Ponce, or , is a historic building in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The building was the site of the Ponce Massacre, and the museum depicts the history and events surrounding the event, which some describe as the most tragic event in the history of Puerto Rico's struggle for...
, located at the intersection where the events took place (corner of Marina and Aurora streets). It houses photographs and various artifacts from the Ponce Massacre. A section of the museum is dedicated to Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos
Pedro Albizu Campos
Don Pedro Albizu Campos was a Puerto Rican politician and one of the leading figures in the Puerto Rican independence movement. He was the leader and president of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party from 1930 until his death...
.
See also
- Ducoudray Holstein ExpeditionDucoudray Holstein ExpeditionThe Ducoudray Holstein Expedition was an attempt by commercial interests to invade Puerto Rico and declare it the independent "Republica Boricua" in 1822....
- Grito de LaresGrito de LaresEl Grito de Lares —also referred as the Lares uprising, the Lares revolt, Lares rebellion or even Lares Revolution—was the first major revolt against Spanish rule and call for independence in Puerto Rico...
- Intentona de YaucoIntentona de YaucoThe Intentona de Yauco a.k.a. the "Attempted Coup of Yauco" of 1897, was the second and last major revolt against Spanish colonial rule in Puerto Rico, staged by Puerto Rico's pro-independence movement....
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- List of massacres in Puerto Rico
- Nationalist attack of San JuanNationalist attack of San JuanThe Nationalist attack of San Juan was one of many uprisings against United States Government rule which occurred in Puerto Rico on October 30, 1950 during the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party revolts...
- Puerto Rican Nationalist PartyPuerto Rican Nationalist PartyThe Puerto Rican Nationalist Party was founded on September 17, 1922. Its main objective is to work for Puerto Rican Independence.In 1919, José Coll y Cuchí, a member of the Union Party of Puerto Rico, felt that the Union Party was not doing enough for the cause of Puerto Rican independence and he...
- Río Piedras massacreRío Piedras massacreThe Río Piedras massacre occurred at the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras, Puerto Rico, and involved a confrontation between local police officers and supporters of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party on October 24, 1935...
- The Jayuya Uprising
- Truman assassination attemptTruman assassination attemptThe assassination attempt on U.S. President Harry S. Truman occurred on November 1, 1950. It was perpetrated by two Puerto Rican pro-independence activists, Oscar Collazo and Griselio Torresola, while the President resided at the Blair House. The attempt resulted in the deaths of White House Police...
- Utuado UprisingUtuado UprisingThe Utuado Uprising, also known as the Utuado Revolt or El Grito de Utuado, refers to the revolt against the United States government in Puerto Rico which occurred on October 30, 1950 in various localities in Puerto Rico and which in Utuado culminated in the "Utuado massacre".-Events leading to the...
- Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Revolts of the 1950sPuerto Rican Nationalist Party Revolts of the 1950sThe Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Revolts of the 1950s was a call for independence and uprising by the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party against United States Government rule of Puerto Rico and against the approval of the creation of the political status "Free Associated State" for Puerto Rico which...
External links
- Information on the Ponce Massacre Museum. Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña.
- La Masacre de Ponce - 21 de marzo de 1937. Sones y Soneros: Programa Musical de Salsa. December 10, 2008. (In Spanish)
- Completa Historia de la Masacre de Ponce. Projecto Salon Hogar. (In Spanish)
- Albizu Campus and the Ponce Massacre. Chapter 19. By Juan Antonio Corretjer. (Pages 377-404). In, Latino/a Thought: Culture, Politics, and Society. By Francisco H. Vazquez (Ed.). Lanham, Md: Rowman Littlefield Publishers. 2009. Pages 377-404.