About

What is Bombs Don't Kill?

Bombs Don't Kill is a digital archive dedicated to tracking the militant actions of Puerto Rican revolutionary movements from 1950 to 1990. The story of these groups, from the FALN (Armed Forces of National Liberation) to the EPB (Boricua Popular Army), is a classic example of the phrase "one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter." Their history is relatively unknown even to most Puerto Ricans, a forgotten chapter in the island's involvement during the Cold War and the many Latin American revolutions throughout the twentieth century. Therefore, Bombs Don't Kill aims to catalog the actions of these groups through primary source documents, geo-location, and quantitative analysis to demonstrate their impact and tell the story of the fight for Puerto Rican independence.

Why the name?

The name Bombs Don't Kill is not meant to make light of the suffering, damages, or trauma caused by the bombings and attacks committed by Puerto Rican revolutionary groups. The name references the majority of bombings that did not harm or kill anyone, with a few exceptions that resulted in dozens injured or killed. These acts may be interpreted less as direct attacks on the body, although primary source documents reveal targeted attacks were not uncommon, and more on the structures and sites that made up what groups like the FALN called places of imperialist, capitalist, and neocolonial oppression. In short, the bombs were as much weapons for the purpose of armed resistance as they were vehicles for a political message.

What can I find on the site?

Over time, Bombs Don't Kill will continue to increase in the interactivity of its content. Due to the limitations of different versions of Omeka, most interaction with the material placed on this site will be changing 'exhibits' dedicated to specific events, periods, or people who participated in the Puerto Rican armed resistance against the United States. In addition, Bombs Don't Kill's main objective is quantifying and portraying the extent of this resistance, critically through the use of maps, statistics, and images. The site is geared towards academics and the public alike, providing research materials and narrative in equal measure.

About the Creator

Bombs Don't Kill was created by Steven R. Garcia, an M.A. History student at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. Steven's focus is revolutionary activism and militancy in twentieth century Latin America, particularly Puerto Rico.