Puerto Rican Independence Party

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The Puerto Rican Independence Party (Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño (PIP) in Spanish) is a Puerto Rican political party that campaigns for the independence of Puerto Rico from the United States.

Those who follow the PIP ideology are called independentistas (usually called pro-independence activists by English speaking media) or pipiolos.

PIP logo.
PIP logo.

Contents

[edit] History

The party began as the electoral wing of the Puerto Rican pro-independence movement. It is the largest of the independence parties, and the only one that is on the ballot during elections (other candidates must be added in by hand).

[edit] Foundation

The party was founded in 1946 by Gilberto Concepción de Gracia (deceased in 1968). [1] He felt the independence movement had been "betrayed" by the Partido Popular Democratico, whose ultimate goal had originally been independence.

[edit] 1970s

In 1971, the newly elected PIP president, Rubén Berríos, then 31, led a protest against the U.S. Navy in Culebra. At that time, he was found guilty of trespassing federal lands and incarcerated for three months (see also: Navy-Culebra protests).

[edit] 1990s

In 1999, PIP leaders, especially Rubén Berríos, became involved in the Navy-Vieques protests started by many citizens of Vieques against the presence of the U.S. military in the island-municipality (see also: Cause of Vieques).

[edit] 2004 Election

During the 2004 elections, the PIP was in serious danger of disappearing, obtaining only 2.4% of the popular vote (According to Puerto Rican electoral laws, a party that receives less that 3% of the vote is considered eradicated). But leader Rubén Berríos announced that, if that happened, party leaders would make sure that it is quickly re-instated. On the other hand Maria De Lourdes Santiago made history that year by becoming the first female member of the PIP to be elected to the Puerto Rican senate.

[edit] Party logo

The PIP's symbol is a green flag with a white cross; because of this, it is identified as the green party, both with the voting public and in the election ballots.

To the PIP, the green color signifies hope of becoming free, and the white cross, the sacrifice and commitment of the party with democracy.

"Cross" (or "Latin cross") flags are a common design in Scandinavia and other parts of the world, and in theory, the PIP's emblem belongs to this family of flags. The PIP's flag is based on the first national flag ever flown by Puerto Ricans, and the current flag of the municipality of Lares. Lares hosted the first relatively successful attempt of revolutionary insurgency in Puerto Rico, the Grito de Lares, in September 23, 1868. The Lares flag is, on the other hand, similar to that of the Dominican Republic, since the Grito's mastermind, Ramon Emeterio Betances, not only admired the Dominican pro-independence struggle, but was also a descendant of Dominicans himself. The Dominican flag was in turn adopted from a French military standard.

[edit] Controversies

Many among the general public have associated the Independence parties, including the Partido Socialista Puertoriqueno with violent acts of terrorism such as those committed by Los Macheteros. However, the party has never acknowledged links to any attacks, insisting that they want independence through peaceful means, and no proof has ever been found to corroborate these allegations. The PIP has participated in frequent congresses of international non-Marxist socialist parties.

[edit] Quotes

"Our life will always be --devoid of weaknesses, free from surrender, without fear of the powerful-- until our soul enters the mystery of eternity, dedicated to democracy; to peace; to the independence of Puerto Rico; to genuine social justice; and the fraternity of all Puerto Ricans. To the struggle and victory!" -Gilberto Concepción de Gracia, (President of the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) from the PIP's founding day, on October 20, 1946 until his death in 1968)

[edit] Important party leaders

[edit] See also

[edit] External link

[edit] References


Political Parties in Puerto Rico
Major Parties Puerto Rican Independence Party | Popular Democratic Party | New Progressive Party
Minor Parties Movimiento Socialista de Trabajadores | Socialist Front | Hostosian National Independence Movement
Puerto Rican Independence Movement
Indigenous Resistance Agüeybaná · Arasibo · Hayuya · Jumacao · Urayoán
Political Organizations Boricua Popular Army · Puerto Rican Independence Party · Puerto Rican Nationalist Party · Hostosian National Independence Movement · Socialist Front
19th century Activists Ramón Emeterio Betances · Mariana Bracetti · Mathias Brugman · Jose de Diego · Eugenio Maria de Hostos · Francisco Gonzalo Marin · Francisco Ramirez Medina · Lola Rodríguez de Tió · Manuel Rojas · Juan Ruis Rivera · Segundo Ruiz Belvis · Arturo Alfonso Schomburg · Antonio Valero de Bernabe · Manuel Zeno Gandia · Fernando Fernandez · Agustín Stahl
Nationalists Pedro Albizu Campos · Margot Arce de Vázquez · Julia de Burgos · Blanca Canales · José Coll y Cuchí · Oscar Collazo · Juan Antonio Corretjer · Jose Ferrer Canales · Lolita Lebrón · Luis Llorens Torres · Antonio S. Pedreira · Daniel Santos · Griselio Torresola · Olga Viscal Garriga · Pedro Ortiz Davila · Rene Marques
20th century Activists Antonio R. Barcelo · Rubén Berríos · Juan Mari Brás · Roy Brown · Gilberto Concepción de Gracia · Elizam Escobar · Rosario Ferré · Victor Manuel Gerena · Maria de Lourdes Santiago · Filiberto Ojeda Ríos · Piri Thomas · Pedro Pietri
Events Spanish colonization of the Americas · Spanish-American War · Grito de Lares · Ponce Massacre · Jayuya Uprising · U.S. Capitol shooting incident (1954)
In other languages