Author: Julia Clayton

Young Lords Student Conference

1946-1989, Alternative Spaces, Consciousness Raising, Date, Disruptive Spaces, Tactics of Disruption

The Young Lords established the first National Puerto Rican Student Conference, which debuted on September 22nd at Columbia University. This event marked the first nationwide consciousness-raising event hosted by Puerto Ricans since they came to the United States. The event’s goals were to conduct workshops to teach about revolutionary Puerto Rican history and culture and preach the importance of women and high school students in the revolution. People in these workshops brainstormed specific improvements for each of their respective organizations. 

“Liberate Puerto Rico Now Committees were set up around the country to publicize the fact that Puerto Rico is a colony of the united states and is controlled economically, politically, and culturally by amerikkka. The Committees will be organizing for the October 30th action at the UN to demand independence for our homeland”

ylp-reader-draggedDownload

Young Lords Community Education

1946-1989, Alternative Spaces, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Latino, Privatization, Subjectives of Refusal

In a newspaper article form the Young lords, Education Lieutenant Carlos Aponte discusses the colonization of Puerto Rican education. When the colonizers landed in Guancia, they destroyed puerto Rican history books and replaced them with American education. The Young Lords refuted this erasure of history by setting up their own educational programs to aid younger generations in learning their roots and especially keeping the spanish language alive.

Community-Education-Download

The Young Lord’s Trip to Puerto Rico

1946-1989, Date, Defining the Enemy, History, History/Theory, Imperialism, Latino, Subjectives of Refusal, White Supremacy

In December of 1970, Gloria Gonzales and Denise Oliver took a ten day trip to Puerto Rico. Their experiences, written in a newspaper article, underline the destructive impacts that western colonialism, specially from America, has on Puerto Rican communities. Oliver describes the psychological impact of colonialism and its devastating impact on young Puerto Rican populations. Oliver rejects the influence of western supremacy on the island, and advocates for a independent Puerto Rico.

Yanquis-Own-Puerto-RicoDownload

The Young Lord’s Party Redefines the War on Drugs

1946-1989, Authority, Date, Defining the Enemy, Latino, Privatization, Subjectives of Refusal, Subjects Redefined, White Supremacy

In a newspaper from 1971, Richie Perez from the Young Lord’s Party discusses the Nixon administration’s policies on “drug control.” Perez argues that Heroine has been an issue harming the Puerto Rican communities for years, However “for the politicians, it didn’t become an “emergency” until heroin spilled out of our ghettos into white communities and into the amerikkkan army.” Perez defines the enemy as the United States government and exposes their negligence.

“Nixon is a liar, and he’s surrounded by other liars and hypocrites. Since 1969, the white house has known about the increase of drug addiction in the army. They have received many reports about this, but instead of being honest and presenting this problem to the people they are supposed to represent, they covered it up”

Richie Perez
Heroin-From-WhereDownload

Resisting Puerto Rican Sterilization

1946-1989, Date, Defining the Enemy, Latino, Privatization, Subjectives of Refusal, White Supremacy

In a newspaper article from the Young Lords in 1970, Iris Morales writes about the genocide committed against Puerto Rican women. In 1947-1948, “7% of the women were sterilized; between 1953-1954, 4 out of every 25 Sisters were sterilized; and by 1965, the number increased to 1 out every 3 women.” Morales identifies the United States government and capitalist systems as the perpetrators of this genocide. She states that sterilization is a mechanism the racist government uses to control the Puerto Rican population. She calls on fellow Puerto Rican women and men to work together to raise awareness of this genocide and resist the demise of the future generation of Puerto Ricans.

Steralized-Puerto-RicansDownload

Young Lords: Armense para Defenderse

1946-1989, Authority, Date, Defining the Enemy, Latino, Privatization, Subjectives of Refusal

Following the creation of the Young Lords in 1969, two members of the party were murdered by American officials due to their resistance. For years Puerto Rican citizens have been “dying mysteriously” at the hands of United States institutions. In this newspaper article, Young Lords member Juan Gonzalez identifies the enemy of the party: privatization and authority. In order to protect themselves and reject their marginalized position, Gonzales influences members to arm themselves in order to reject the hierarchy of power within United States institutions.

Armense-para-DefenderseDownload

Young Lords Occupy People’s Church to Create People’s Defense Center

1946-1989, Alternative Spaces, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Latino, Privatization, Self Institution, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption

In October 1970, Hundreds of Young Lords members occupied the People’s Church, waving Puerto Rican Flags, chanting their support, and demanding that the murder of Julio Roldan be avenged. After the dissatisfaction with the official reports and response to the murders, the Young Lords took the People’s church to create a community space where Puerto Ricans could seek support that was previously denied to them by the United States government. They showed up armed to protect themselves from the mass murder of Puerto Rican citizens by U.S. officials. In their occupation, they set up bail funds, offer draft counseling, and provide lawyers and counseling.

Julio-Roldan-Peoples-Defense-Center-Opens-in-the-Peoples-ChurchDownload

The Young Lords Expose Murder at Lincoln Hospital

1946-1989, Authority, Defining the Enemy, Imperialism, Latino, Privatization, Subjectives of Refusal, White Supremacy

From the Newspaper Palante, in July 1970s, the Young Lords revealed the death of 31-year-old Carmen Rodriguez, who went to Lincoln Hospital to receive an abortion. When Rodriguez entered the operating room, doctors neglected to view her medical history, which revealed she had a heart condition. The medication the doctors gave her during the procedure was unsafe for people with heart conditions, and Rodriguez passed shortly after receiving the dosage. The Young Lords expose capitalism for gatekeeping food, clothing, and shelter from Puerto Rican communities, which led to Carmen’s necessity for abortion. The neglect in healthcare is an additional example of how American systems fail and murder Puerto Rican communities.

Carmen was forced to go for an abortion because under this capitalist system that which is our right—food, clothing, and shelter—is kept from us. Instead we become the drug addicts, the prostitutes, the ill, and the hungry. What choice does a sister have when she is pregnant, thinking of providing for her child? Will he or she grow up to be a junkie or maybe die in the wars created by amerikkkan greed and madness? We know there is but one choice. Armed self-defense and armed struggle are the only means to liberation.


-Gloria Cruz
Murder-at-LincolnDownload

Tuberculosis Truck Liberated

1946-1989, Alternative Spaces, Date, Disruptive Spaces, Occupation, Self Institution, Tactics of Disruption

In July 1970, the Young Lords Party followed through with their commitment to occupy and re-create oppressive medical institutions. On June 17, the Young Lords Party liberated an X-ray truck from the Tuberculosis Society. Before the occupation, members of the Young Lord Party had minimal access to x-ray Tuberculosis testing. In three days, the YLP tested over 770 people. The Young Lords Party made the X-ray truck available to the community seven days a week, 10 hours a day.

TB-Truck-LiberatedDownload

Young Lords Socialist Medicine

1946-1989, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Imperialism, Latino, Privatization, Self Institution, Tactics of Disruption, Urban Spaces, White Supremacy

The Young Lords Party identifies the disparities of the United States health system, which neglects the needs of the oppressed in the Bronx. Through exposing the racist and classist oppression within the United States Healthcare system- specifically through the spread of Tuberculosis- the Young Lords create their own methods of healthcare through socialist practices.

“Every Saturday, the Young Lords Party goes door to door in El Barrio and the South Bronx, testing for tuberculosis. Even though t.b. has been eliminated among the rich, the middle classes, and white people in general, it is alive and spreading in the Puerto Rican and Black colonies of amerikkka, the “richest” country in the world”

-Carol Pastor
Young-Lords-Socialist-MedicineDownload

Young Lords High School Revolt

1946-1989, Authority, Black, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Institutions, Latino, Self Institution, Tactics of Disruption, White Supremacy

In this document, Richie Perez from the Young Lords Party calls upon his Black and Puerto Rican community members to continue to fight for the “return of the educational system to the people.” Perez defines the common enemy as the white-run school system and advocates for a vanguard of students to come together and resist this shared oppression.


“To all our brothers and sisters in school—if your school is messed up, if the administration and the teachers don’t care and don’t teach—don’t let them force you to drop out. Throw them out. The schools belong to us, not to them. Take all that anger and put it to work for our people. Make revolution inside the schools. If the schools don’t function for us, they shouldn’t function at all!”

-Richie Perez
H.S.-RevoltDownload

The Young Lords Party: 13-Point Program and Platform

1946-1989, Authority, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Imperialism, Institutions, Latino, Self Institution, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption, Urban Spaces, White Supremacy

In a 13-Point Program and Platform, the Young Lords Party declared their fight for self-determination for Puerto Ricans inside and outside the United States. This program highlights the Young Lords’ dedication to an interconnected liberation of Black, Indians, Indigenous, Asian, and Latinos. Additionally, they demand community control of institutions, land, and education. They reject the American military and capitalism and urge the creation of a socialist society.

Young-Lords-Party-13-Point-Porgram-and-PlatformDownload

Health and Heath Care: A Need for Latino Unity 

1946-1989, Consciousness Raising, Self Institution, Tactics of Disruption

In August 1981, the Boricua Health Organization called upon Latino health professional workers in a consciousness-raising effort to discuss the healthcare of the Latino community in the United States. The goal of the unity meeting is to establish healthcare structures for Latino people by Latinos, and to influence Latino students to become leaders in this innovative healthcare movement.

Heath and Heath Care: A Need for Latino UnityDownload

Creation of the Malcolm X Center for Black Youth

1946-1989, Consciousness Raising, Date, Defining the Enemy, Subjectives of Refusal, Subjects Redefined, Tactics of Disruption, White Supremacy

The Black Panther Party created the Malcolm X Center to counter drug abuse, dropout, and illiteracy rates among Black teenagers. In a specific example, one teenager was ready to join ROTC until the Center taught this man about “the relationships of the US Armed forces to Black people.” After visiting the center, the young man rejected the military services and chose to change his name to an African name. The Center served as a place for consciousness-raising for young Black folks to collectively realize their potential outside of white supremacist institutions.

The Accent on Young PeopleDownload

Blank Panther Self-Defense Campaign

1946-1989, Alternative Spaces, Authority, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Tactics of Disruption

The Black Panther Party established the CATF committed to protecting Black folks as a way to “challenge both crime and pervasive police violence.” Black folks recognized that the police force was committed to “oppression, not protection” of Black bodies and communities. Therefore, they created their own alternative space and self-institutions where Black individuals learn to protect themselves and others from police violence.

Black Panther Self-Defense Campaign NewspaperDownload

ActUP Staged “Die-In” at Bill De Blasio’s Inauguration

2011-Present, Blockade/Barricade, Date, Occupation, Queer, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption

On January 1, 2014, ActUP activists staged a Die-In at Major De Blasio’s inauguration. The protestors disrupted the inauguration after they repetitively demanded that New York City lawmakers revert their attention to the AIDS epidemic. To prove that the NYC government has blood on its hands, activists staged a Die-in where they lay for hours to disturb the inauguration, and symbolize those whom the government’s negligence has killed.

ActUP Activists Lock Al Gore Out of Office

1990-2010, Blockade/Barricade, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Institutions, Occupation, Queer, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption, The Workplace

On August 23, 1997, five activists were arrested after locking down the Old Executive Office Building to deny Al Gore access to proceed with his U.S.-South Africa deal on pharmaceutical access. ActUP activists argued that his proposed agreement unfairly limits South Africa’s right to produce and import essential drugs at affordable prices. These activists postponed the workday, as officials took hours cutting the activists’ chains. The activists’ goal was to interrupt the workday to distrust the movement on Al Gore’s harmful procedure.

Activists Lock Gore Out of His Office, Criticizing Proposed S. Africa AIDS Drugs Deal – ACT UP_DCDownload

AIDS Activism- “By Any Means Necessary”

1990-2010, Authority, Blockade/Barricade, Consciousness Raising, Date, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Institutions, Occupation, Privatization, Queer, Sabotage/Ecotage, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption

Kiki Mason, an ActUP activist, wrote “Manifesto Destiny, By Any Means Necessary” to raise consciousness among his LGBTQ+ community to refuse the negligence of the United States Healthcare system and continue to live by “any means necessary.” Mason defines his disruption as continuing to live despite the government’s refusal to act rigorously in fighting the AIDS epidemic.

 “This is my message to everyone with AIDS: If you think the end is near, take someone with you. Hold the president of a drug company hostage. Splatter your blood across the desk of a politician. Trash an AIDS researcher’s home. When some silly-assed, blow-dried, brain-dead TV reporter asks you a stupid question about living with AIDS, spit in his face. Call the police and tell them you’ve put LSD in the water supply in retaliation for our genocide. Do it so they’ll know what it’s like to have your life ripped apart”

Kirk Mason (1996)

The-ACT-UP-Historical-Archive_-By-Any-Means-Necessary-by-Kiki-MasonDownload

Black Panther Party’s Free Medical Clinic

1946-1989, Authority, Black, Defining the Enemy, Disruptive Spaces, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption, White Supremacy

The Black Panther Party created the Mark Clark Free Medical Clinic to assist Black families with gaining access to proper medical facilities. The newspaper article argues Philadelphia’s state-provided medical care is haphazard at best, often resulting in the death and slaughter of Black folks. Those who work at the Clinic are volunteers dedicated to serving the people. The Free Medical Clinic is an example of space redefined- medical care created for Black folks by Black folks, intending to redefine the healthcare system on the terms of the Black Panther Party.

“The federal and local governments are long overdue in recognizing the needs of the people and moving to eliminate the problems. People in ameriKKKa have been sick and broken continuously”

Mark Clark
Self-Help MovementDownload

Building Resistance & Self-Reliance in Detroit

1946-1989, Alternative Spaces, Black, Disruptive Spaces, Subjectives of Refusal, Tactics of Disruption

The Black Panther Party organized a self-run, community-based institution to mitigate the devastating impacts of Lyndon Johnson’s “War on Poverty,” where healthcare services previously provided to Black families became non-existent. The Malcom-X Center for Black Survival created Black-controlled institutions to improve living conditions and create new opportunities for Black folks to be reliant on their own communities rather than falling victim to the negligence of the white government.

Black Panther Newspaper: Malcom-X Center for Black SurvivalDownload