HomeList of Groups

List of Groups

Puerto Rican Resistance Groups (1950-1990)


Las Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional Puertorriqueña

Who were the FALN?

The Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional Puertorriqueña (translated: Armed Forces of Puerto Rican National Liberation) were a militant independence movement fighting for Puerto Rico's independence through armed revolutionary action. In existence from 1974 to 1983, they were responsible for more than 120 bombings in New York City, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. The FALN's political stance and tactics are presented here on Bombs Don't Kill threw a series of items in their respective collection, ranging from political communiques to internal manifestos.

Main Objectives of the FALN

Broadly, the FALN aimed to accomplish three distinct, reoccurring objectives as found in their publications:

1. Puerto Rican independence from the United States, specifically referring to the 'colonial regime' and the exploitation of the island by capitalist enterprises.
2. Clemency for imprisoned Puerto Rican revolutionaries.
3. International support for independence or Marxist-Leninist movements abroad, including Vietnam, Angola, anti-apartheid in South Africa, and anti-capitalism sentiment against leading capitalist nations, including France, the U.K., West Germany, and Japan.

Methods of Operation

Briefly, the FALN, as previously mentioned, carried out hundreds of bombings in urban centers like New York City, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. They are frequently labeled as urban guerrillas, using hidden cells in city centers to strike at popular or well-known sites, such as shopping centers, hotels, or even government buildings. For more on how the FALN operated, what sites they struck, or who was a part of their organization, please visit the FALN collection and the site's current exhibit, A Generation of Terror: The 1970s FALN Bombings of NYC.

El Ejército Popular Boricua

Who were the EPB?

El Ejército Popular Boricua (translated: The Boricua Popular Army), otherwise known as Los Macheteros or the 'Machete Wielders,' grew out of the FALN in the mid-1970s. Compared to the FALN, the EPB conducted more traditional form of armed militancy, including armed attacks on U.S. bases and servicemen in Puerto Rico to a Wells Fargo bank robbery in the 1980s. They, much like their counterparts, resisted against American rule of Puerto Rico, advocating for revolutionary action and the installation of a socialist government on the island. Although they also had guerrilla cells in the mainland, they primarily operated in Puerto Rico.
Items regarding the EPB will be added in the future.

Main Objectives of the EPB

In summary, the EPB sought to achieve a series of goals through armed revolutionary actions, those being:

1. Puerto Rican independence from the United States and the installation of a socialist government on the island.
2. Resistance against the United States military and the colonial regime through armed action.
3. International solidarity in the face of persisting colonialism in Puerto Rico and abroad.

Methods of Operation

While the FALN utilized dynamite and incendiary bombings predominantly in New York City and Chicago, the EPB took to more extreme armed tactics against their opponents. Primarily carrying out these attacks in Puerto Rico, they most notably raided a National Guard airbase in 1981 and stole approximately 7 million U.S. dollars from a Wells Fargo in Connecticut. In this sense, the EPB was much more overt and aggressive in their guerrilla tactics than the FALN.

Young Lords

Who were the Young Lords?

Modeled closely after the Black Panthers in the late 1960s, the Young Lords were a leftist organization that, although they supported the cause of armed resistance against the United States, did not actively engage in armed guerrilla actions against American authorities or the military. They were based predominantly in New York and Chicago around Puerto Rican colonias, or predominantly Puerto Rican neighborhoods. However, the group showed extensive solidarity with anti-colonialism, anti-racism, and leftist organizations around the United States and abroad.

Main Objectives of the Young Lords

What follows is a brief summary of the Young Lords' ten point (or thirteen) program, outlining their objectives as an organization:

1. Self determination for Puerto Ricans to govern themselves and all Latinos throughout the Americas.
2. Community control of land and resources, including a right to education and business.
3. An opposition to the American government and the military, along with freedom for all political prisoners in American prisons.
4. The creation of a free, socialist society, through armed struggle as necessary.

Methods of Operation

As previously mentioned, the Young Lords did not actively pursue armed guerrilla action against the United States. Much like the Black Panthers, the Young Lords advocated for armed self-defense against the United State government and authorities. Primarily, the Young Lords undertook a variety social work programs to feed and educate local communities. In taking to the streets, they often protested and organized rallies to advocate for amnesty for political prisoners, land and resources for the poor, or equal rights for minorities and women.