By Bryan G. Pfeifer

Denouncing the assassination of Puerto Rican revolutionary patriot Filiberto Ojeda Rios, over 50 independentisas and their allies protested at the JFK Federal Building at noon in downtown Boston September 29.

The FBI perpetrated this despicable and cowardly act against the Puerto Rican nation by carrying out the assassination on Sept. 23, the 137th anniversary of El Grito de Lares, the day the first Republic of Puerto Rico was proclaimed in 1868 and which Puerto Ricans view as the birth of the nation.

Seventy two year old Ojeda Ríos was a leader of the clandestine Popular Boricua Army (EPB-Macheteros) – Machete Wielders. He had an arrest warrant from a Connecticut District Court that convicted him in absentia for 55 years for his presumed participation in the 1983 famous $7 million Wells Fargo robbery. This robbery, according to many sources, went to fund toys for poor children and the Macheteros’ work.

Over 250 FBI agents including two dozen trained sharp shooters shot at Ojeda Rios at least 100 times. After he was hit by a sharpshooters bullet he was left to die on the floor of his Machertos home bleeding for 20 hours as U.S. agents coldy stood by and refused even medical personnel to enter the residence.

Those present at the protest vowed to continue honoring the spirit and contributions of this towering warrior and to increase the struggle for Puerto Rico’s liberation from U.S. colonialism for which Ojeda Rios gave his life.

"From Boston to Hormigueros we support the Macheteros," and "Puerto Rico will be free, Drive the Yankees to the sea," chanted Marta Rodriguez, a leading Puerto Rican independentista in the Greater Boston area and a well-known people's artist.

Flanked by numerous supporters hoisting her homeland’s flag, Rodriguez declared "the entire population of Puerto Rico is outraged at the vicious sadism and cruelty of this assassination."

Rodriguez described how tens of thousands came out to honor Ojeda Rios at his funeral cortege and throughout the country and in the diaspora to vent their rage and to demand the U.S. leave Puerto Rico immediately.

Some participants wore T-shits reading "FBI Asesinos" and others hoisted placards declaring such slogans as "End colonialism from Iraq to Puerto Rico to Palestine and Haiti."

Other speakers included Felix Arroyo, Boston’s first-ever Puerto Rican at-large City Councilor who declared ".. We are Puerto Rican yesterday, today, tomorrow and always, no matter what happens. In San Juan, New York, Hartford, Boston, we are Puerto Rican..."

Chuck Turner, an African American Boston City Councilor, declared his support for the Puerto Rican liberation struggle.

"We understand this is the way that the U.S. deals with those who represent a political movement," said Dorotea Manuela of the Puerto Rican Women’s Committee referencing Ojeda Rios, and American Indian Movement, Black Panther, Brown Beret, and Young Lord members as well as others assassinated and terrorized by the FBI through the COINTELPRO program.

Declaring the U.S. made a mistake in assassinating Ojeda Rios, Manuela added, "This is not going to intimidate us. If anything this is going to help us move forward. This has reignited a militancy."

Kazi Toure of Jericho Boston related his experience of being a political prisoner alongside Ojeda Rios in Hartford, Connecticut in the 1980s. Toure described Ojeda Rios' gentle, wise, militant, and revolutionary spirit that others gravitated towards. He was a true people's leader and hero said Toure.

Nigel, a Puerto Rican student at Boston College, held a placard with Ojeda Rio's picture and the words, "We condemn the FBI assassination of Filberto Ojeda Rios, our hero."

Nigel related his emotions of sadness but pride describing how he talked to his father via cell phone as he attended the funeral cortege in Puerto Rico. His pride became visible as he told of how youth and students like himself led and participated in many of the actions honoring their legendary elder, teacher, musician, scholar, leader, companero and hero. One of these included the tearing down of the hated Yankee flag at the University of Puerto Rico-San Juan and replaced with the 1868 Macheteros flag.

Ojeda Rio's assassination has "brought us more together. It’s going to be the exact opposite reaction of what the U.S. expected," said Nigel.

Dozens of leaflets in English and Spanish by the protest sponsors and the International Action Center-Boston condemning the assassination were distributed.

As the protesters parted for the day, Rodriguez began a call-and response chant where she named various Puerto Rican towns and cities with the crowd responding "Resist" after each one eventually ending with a deafening crescendo of "Resists!"

The parting chant:

"Filberto Ojeda Rios, live like him. Dare to struggle, dare to win."

Students from Boston and Regis college as well as members of the Communication Workers union, The Community Church of Boston, Green-Rainbow Party, International Action Center, Jericho Movement, New England Committee to Defend Palestine, Organization of Latin American Affairs at Boston College, Puerto Rican Women’s Committee, Troops Out Now-Boston, Service Employees union, Stonewall Warriors and Workers World Party participated.