The Jayuya Uprising

The Jayuya Uprising

After the events of the Ponce massacre(March 1937) Albizu Camping returned to Puerto Rico. Albizu Camping had served ten years in prison. On June 11, 1948 Jesus T. Pinero, the governor at the time passed a law which made the public avocation of independence unlawful. Albizu Camping gave a speech in Manati in which nationalists for all over Puerto Rico came. They were there to make sure that Manati wouldn’t get arrested. The nationalist party planned an armed revolt from 1949 and 1950. On October 26, 1950 Albizu Camping was holding a meeting when he was informed his house was surrounded. He was also told the police had arrested some of the other nationalist leaders. Albizu call or the revolt to began. October 30, the revolt was staged in Ponce, Mayaguez, Naranjito, Arecibo, Utuado, San Juan, and Jayuya. Armed nationalist were lead into Jayuya, by Canales and the Torresola.

They attacked the police station one officer was killed ,and three got wounded. After word the other office laid down their weapons and surrendered. The nationalist party burned down the towns post office ,and cut the towns telephone lines. Canales raised the light blue version of the Puerto Rican flag ,and gave a speech declaring Puerto Rico a free republic. The nationalist held the town for three days. The U.S. declared marshal law on the island. The Puerto Rican National guard attacked the town by land the U.S. bombed it by plan. Part of the town was destroyed but that wouldn’t be leaked out. It was considered “an incident between Puerto Ricans”. The nationalist leaders were arrested including Albizu Campos and Blanca Canales.

Reference: http://dalowa.com/boricuation/jayuya.html