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Free Puerto Rico
Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on the island’s southern coast, Don Pedro was the most uncompromising fighter for Puerto Rican independence of the 20th Century, spending two decades behind bars for his activities.
Albizu Campos was arrested on several occasions for advocating and organizing violent uprisings against the occupying power.
During his final incarceration, which lasted from 1954-1964, Don Pedro’s health deteriorated badly, which he claimed was a result of his being the guinea pig in unauthorized experiments on the use of radiation. These accusations have since been found to have basis in fact.
Albizu Campos was arrested on several occasions for advocating and organizing violent uprisings against the occupying power.
During his final incarceration, which lasted from 1954-1964, Don Pedro’s health deteriorated badly, which he claimed was a result of his being the guinea pig in unauthorized experiments on the use of radiation. These accusations have since been found to have basis in fact.
16 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 28, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 29, 2016
It was great to learn more about the stance of the face of the Puerto Rican Nationalist movement. Proud to know he was from Ponce, like myself. Wish it was longer and that I knew more about this pamphlet, was is a transcribed speech or did he sit and write it, etc.
April 12, 2020
Pedro Albizu Campos our last great bastion of independence and sovereignty. A harvard valedictorian and leader of the independece party. The US government imprisoned, tortured, and killed him in order to send a clear message to other people with similar ideologies. He was treated like a terrorist (torture and all) in US soil. A superfluous treatment to a great figure. If needed for context he can be regarded as a MLK in his way of leading people.
In this pamphlet he argues and outlines a roadmap to free Puerto Rico from its territory status and able to participate in the trade market. This was back in the early 1900s when Puerto Rico had good land and ability to build a market using the island resources. In present times, the island is a paved parking lot for the four or five corporations that Pedro was looking to free the island from.
In this pamphlet he argues and outlines a roadmap to free Puerto Rico from its territory status and able to participate in the trade market. This was back in the early 1900s when Puerto Rico had good land and ability to build a market using the island resources. In present times, the island is a paved parking lot for the four or five corporations that Pedro was looking to free the island from.
December 8, 2014
Según entiendo de este pequeño panfleto, es un reclamo escrito por Don Pedro Albizu Campos a los Estados Unidos para que nos concedan la Independencia, estableciendo algunos beneficios de la misma y explicando tanto razones sociales, como culturales y hasta usando definiciones judiciales para apoyar su argumento. Como dije, es un panfleto, no un libro y es corto. También tengo mis dudas sobre la veracidad de algunas cosas que dice al principio sobre el estatus de Puerto Rico con España, pero llego a estar de acuerdo con el reclamo de Albizu sobre la independencia de Estados Unidos, especialmente a cuanto al comercio con este país se refiere.
May 19, 2026
It was a quick read and I believe every person who cares about justice should read this.
July 2, 2020
I had not read any of his work before this, and I now understand why he is referred to in the Puerto Rican Independence movement as such a figurehead.
This was written so long ago, and so much more has happened since it’s time. Alas, so much about Puerto Rico’s status as a country-not country/commonwealth is still the same, if not worse.
It’s a short read; one that I only took in chunks because of the disappointment I felt while reading it. I will be reading it again, along with more of his works.
This was written so long ago, and so much more has happened since it’s time. Alas, so much about Puerto Rico’s status as a country-not country/commonwealth is still the same, if not worse.
It’s a short read; one that I only took in chunks because of the disappointment I felt while reading it. I will be reading it again, along with more of his works.
July 8, 2016
"Since Puerto Rico is a very rich country the absentee corporations established here carry out propaganda in the North American press in order to induce the innocent North American people to support this regime of economic exploitation through the falsehood that it is for the good of the poor people of Puerto Rico."
March 20, 2023
Wish it was longer
May 12, 2026
This has been virtually the only work I've been able to find containing words from Albizu Campos himself, in English (my Spanish is not nearly good enough yet to read Spanish sources).
As such, it is extremely valuable for giving Anglophones a perspective into Puerto Rican history and the significance of Albizu Campos to contemporary Puerto Rico.
Unfortunately this is extremely short, only containing what I gather are two speeches. This is something, and shouldn't be underestimated, but it is only a very slight introduction to what must have been a voluminous career.
Of interest is the passion Albizu Campos has for Puerto Rico. He is clearly proud of his heritage, mentioning a number of prominent Puerto Ricans, noting that Ponce de Leon planted the Cross on the American continent a hundred years before the English, speaking warmly about Spain (which earlier generations of revolutionaries, such as Betances, might have thought strange), and so on.
You can glean his attachment to democracy and revolutionary liberty through his appeal to famous episodes in the American Revolution, in the Peninsular War, and in the South American Wars of Independence.
The core of Albizu's arguments are already apparent in these pages. He vehemently denied the validity of the Treaty of Paris. Using legalistic arguments Albizu Campos claimed that Puerto Rico, having been granted autonomy by Spain, was not Spain's to give away.
Hence the Treaty of Paris could not give sovereignty over the island to the United States because Spain was not sovereign. This is murky and debatable, but it's a good place to start in demanding secession.
Albizu Campos fought in the First World War and must have been electrified by the Wilsonian (and Leninist) doctrine of self-determination. Like other colonial peoples, he must also have been bitterly disappointed when the victorious allies in Paris chose not to extend this right to peoples outside Europe.
The right to self-determination is the crux of Albizu Campos's struggle, and the struggle of the nationalists in general, continuing to this day. For example the nationalists have always argued that the referendum on the Commonwealth was not legitimate, and that the Puerto Rican people have never truly expressed their right of self-determination.
In the second chapter Albizu Campos goes into a somewhat strange aside on the Confederacy, saying that despite the existence of a Southern identity the US is politically one state. He also says what we would call the Lost Causers have not given up their dreams of independence. I'm not sure of Albizu Campos is trying to legitimize Puerto Rican independence through the self-determination of Southern whites, but it's probably not an association that would help him.
That aside, it is extremely useful to get some insight into Albizu Campos's own thoughts and own words. Much of what I've been reading is second-hand, much of it from American sources that are not sympathetic. You can see here a man who was passionate and uncompromising, and you can see why the people of Puerto Rico have seen him as a hero.
As such, it is extremely valuable for giving Anglophones a perspective into Puerto Rican history and the significance of Albizu Campos to contemporary Puerto Rico.
Unfortunately this is extremely short, only containing what I gather are two speeches. This is something, and shouldn't be underestimated, but it is only a very slight introduction to what must have been a voluminous career.
Of interest is the passion Albizu Campos has for Puerto Rico. He is clearly proud of his heritage, mentioning a number of prominent Puerto Ricans, noting that Ponce de Leon planted the Cross on the American continent a hundred years before the English, speaking warmly about Spain (which earlier generations of revolutionaries, such as Betances, might have thought strange), and so on.
You can glean his attachment to democracy and revolutionary liberty through his appeal to famous episodes in the American Revolution, in the Peninsular War, and in the South American Wars of Independence.
The core of Albizu's arguments are already apparent in these pages. He vehemently denied the validity of the Treaty of Paris. Using legalistic arguments Albizu Campos claimed that Puerto Rico, having been granted autonomy by Spain, was not Spain's to give away.
Hence the Treaty of Paris could not give sovereignty over the island to the United States because Spain was not sovereign. This is murky and debatable, but it's a good place to start in demanding secession.
Albizu Campos fought in the First World War and must have been electrified by the Wilsonian (and Leninist) doctrine of self-determination. Like other colonial peoples, he must also have been bitterly disappointed when the victorious allies in Paris chose not to extend this right to peoples outside Europe.
The right to self-determination is the crux of Albizu Campos's struggle, and the struggle of the nationalists in general, continuing to this day. For example the nationalists have always argued that the referendum on the Commonwealth was not legitimate, and that the Puerto Rican people have never truly expressed their right of self-determination.
In the second chapter Albizu Campos goes into a somewhat strange aside on the Confederacy, saying that despite the existence of a Southern identity the US is politically one state. He also says what we would call the Lost Causers have not given up their dreams of independence. I'm not sure of Albizu Campos is trying to legitimize Puerto Rican independence through the self-determination of Southern whites, but it's probably not an association that would help him.
That aside, it is extremely useful to get some insight into Albizu Campos's own thoughts and own words. Much of what I've been reading is second-hand, much of it from American sources that are not sympathetic. You can see here a man who was passionate and uncompromising, and you can see why the people of Puerto Rico have seen him as a hero.
January 14, 2025
As Puerto Rico’s dissent from the US rises, the nationalist movements become more real. Puerto Rico is so beautiful and so diverse, and seeing its growth (especially with Bad Bunny’s new album Debí Tirar Más Fotos) makes me so proud to be half Puerto Rican. Campos shuts down American ideas of PR in which they cannot grow or support themselves in a powerful manner.
July 10, 2019
Good points not in debth
It summarized the points of Puerto Rico being able to self govern and the abuse from the U.S. Government but I would of liked to see more details and examples.
It summarized the points of Puerto Rico being able to self govern and the abuse from the U.S. Government but I would of liked to see more details and examples.
August 31, 2019
Insightful
Good read, touches on several topics on past and on the current state of a beautiful island that has been suffering for so many years. Puerto Rico and it's people are fighting for what is rightfully their's.
Good read, touches on several topics on past and on the current state of a beautiful island that has been suffering for so many years. Puerto Rico and it's people are fighting for what is rightfully their's.
September 28, 2020
Great brief primer
Great brief primer on Puerto Rico and United States relations. This is hugely relevant in the wake of Hurricane Maria, earthquake and continual natural disasters tied to the capitalist market system.
Great brief primer on Puerto Rico and United States relations. This is hugely relevant in the wake of Hurricane Maria, earthquake and continual natural disasters tied to the capitalist market system.
May 2, 2018
Important Historical facts
I gave a five star rating as I felt the book interesting and informative, with the timetable of events correct.
I gave a five star rating as I felt the book interesting and informative, with the timetable of events correct.
April 27, 2025
This opens up the door for me to look more into the story of Puerto Rico and its conflict with its independence
October 8, 2025
Ikke en stor fan av Campos sentralisering av Kristendommen, men ellers et brennende utrop mot sine fiender. Selve teksten fungerer simpelt og greit som en slags løp gjennom Puerto Ricos historie, med tydeligvis motiv til å våkne opp folket. Håper PR ikke blir lik som Hawaii :(
July 2, 2016
This SUPER short book provides some of the writings of Pedro Albizu Campos, an Afro-Latino Boricua who really wasn't playing around when it came to getting Puerto Rican independence. Super-smart, super dedicated, it's crazy how when you read this man's writing, you see and understand how Puerto Rico is now economically imploding due to the "absentee corporations" he referred to like 90 years ago. It's like he tried to warn Los Yanquis and the Boricuas. Would the same thing have happened if they achieved independence? statehood? I don't know, but this was an insightful read.
Read
February 13, 2016great short and to the point
Great. This book describes what Pedro Albizu Campos believes to be the true status of the unincorporated territory of Puerto Rico.
Great. This book describes what Pedro Albizu Campos believes to be the true status of the unincorporated territory of Puerto Rico.
June 24, 2015
Do not waste your time or money on this pamphlet as I foolishly did!!
May 22, 2017
couldve been more elaborate tbh
May 29, 2020
An amazing book that presents the alternate story to the official story about our history and how things really happened. A must-read for all Puerto Ricans.
August 9, 2020
Small book and yet very informative about the ideals of Campos and the struggle for an Independent Puerto Rico.
December 10, 2022
It is short, but it peaks at the end with the reminder that the American education exist to control the masses as well as maintain blind ignorance.
April 24, 2017
Great
It's a good book with a great massage but i think that is too late for Puerto Rico to be free. Plus after FDR there's no other president in support Puerto Rico's freedom
It's a good book with a great massage but i think that is too late for Puerto Rico to be free. Plus after FDR there's no other president in support Puerto Rico's freedom
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews