December 30, 1950: Oscar Collazo

Prior to the Jayua Uprising in 1950, the nationalist party of Puerto Rico, lead and controlled by Pedro Albizo Campos was already envisioning plans for a new, self ruled Puerto Rico. With the help of many patriots, these nationalists were determined to use terror as a weapon to gaining back their home country and hoped to chase the Americans back to the shores of the United States. With various attempts at bombarding the US, the nationalists have succeeded only a select few times, with many being nationalists being jailed or killed during and after these attempts. One of the most notable attempts is the Attempted Assassination of President Truman while he was residing in his Blair House Residence. This attempt was organized and committed by nationalists Oscar Collazo and Torresola. With the death of Torresola ending his nationalist career, Collazo was sentenced to 29 years in jail for his act of attempted murder. Although many nationalist leaders were imprisoned, their ideas still spread throughout the rich port allowing the Puerto Rican Independence movements still continue on today. The following is a post by Oscar Collazo after the attempted assassination and his reflection on his actions and beliefs.

Using terror and enforcing fear in the hearts of our enemies drives our nationalist party to this very jail cell. In no way do I look down upon my actions that brought me here to this cell nor do I believe that I actually did anything wrong. According to our leader, Pedro Albizo Campos, Puerto Rico is illegally owned by the United States and should be free of all foreign control. I can not say that I regret my actions as I acted for the goodness of my country; for the sake and well being of Puerto Rico.

I can recall the first time that I heard Campos, my great leader, speak. At the age of fourteen, I committed my first unlawful act by choice and attended a student strike against American’s control of Puerto Rico. The day was the birthday of Puerto Rican politician Jose de Diego; the day was the day that I first saw my “maestro”. In his speech his words made perfect sense to me, engraving ideas that my mind has been craving into my brain. For years I was forced to listen to my brother’s words, words out of the mouth of the Union Party of Puerto Rico. Never had the ideas of independence or belief in Puerto Rico under its own rule come up in daily conversations; however, it seemed as though finally, Campos spoke everything that I had been dreaming of my entire life. I wanted to be free. To rule my own life without someone else controlling every little aspect around me. Whether is was my older brother telling me what to think or the Americans taking over and running our nation and economy, I felt as though I had never broken the individual barrier that makes me different that the man standing next to me. Campos not only won my support because he seemed to be, in my eyes, a great leader, but also a man of strong and willful action. Still to this day I bow down to his wonderful ideas and worship his concepts with every ounce of nationalism I can conjecture.

Many people, I guarantee, are wondering as to why I and my fellow nationalist friend, Torresola, advanced and attempted to kill United States President Truman at his residence in Blair House, New York and I can tell you why. I feel no shame in what I did since I believe that the attempt brought Puerto Rico one step further towards independence and socialism. Socialism will become the key to all of Puerto Rico’s future prosperity and under it everyone will experience equality. Honestly, I was in no desire to kill the President just for his death; there is no failure in my attempt. I solely wished to take my patriotic fervor and draw world wide attention to the oppression of Puerto Rico by the United States. The U.S dominated my nation and I was and still am angry and disgusted at the so called “progress” that the Americans take pride in. They in no way helped to advance our nation as a whole. Under their rule they held us back beyond our true potential since they fear the baby steps the Puerto Rico may take in the future. I can briefly remember what actually happened that night of the assassination. The guards were everywhere, yet they did not scare me or my partner. Our Puerto Rico pride prevailed through our fear and pushed us onward until we came face to face with death. The last thing I can remember experiencing before getting shot myself is watching my dear friend Torresola fall to his knees, the death in his eyes. I pushed harder and harder to reach the president as it was up to me to bring the world’s attention to Puerto Rico… the richest port in the world. Then the advancement came to an end, bringing me here to where I’m reflecting on all of my accomplishments. How I managed to succeed against the United States shall show the rest of those living in Puerto Rico that they can stand up against the Americans as well. Fear will always fall behind the hero.

The decision to actually persevere our plan made me leave behind my wife and daughters, yet however much I try and convince myself that I hurt them by committing this crime, I can see no hurt or fault… just the great new opportunities I have opened up to them.When I get out of this cell of opportunity I hope to be met with a new, glorious and independent Puerto Rico. I dream of the Americans leaving and maybe when I return I will see “when the last Yankee soldier leaves the Puerto Rican territory,” then “I'll be glad to write a letter of appreciation to the president of the United States."

Oscar Collazo

(Picture Citation: http://iconicphotos.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/pict319-jpg.jpeg)