Filiberto Ojeda Ríos was assassinated in his home in Hormigueros, Puerto Rico by the FBI on September 23rd. Ojeda Ríos was a member of the Macheteros (also known as the Ejercito Popular Boricua or Boricua Popular Army), a militant pro-independence organization in Puerto Rico. He had been labeled a terrorist and sought by US authorities since 1990. In that year he had removed his electronic ankle bracelet while he awaited trial for his involvement in a 1983 $7 million Wells Fargo truck heist in West Hartford, Connecticut. He had been living clandestinely ever since.

On September 23rd, Filiberto Ojeda Ríos and his wife were alone in their home when they were shot at over 100 times. Ojeda Ríos was hit in the shoulder on Friday afternoon. Law enforcement waited 20 hours before entering the house, and found him dead. Autopsy reports show that he had bled to death from the wound in his shoulder.

The killing of Ojeda Ríos added insult to injury for Puerto Ricans, who are fighting for indepdendence from the United States. He was killed on the anniversary of the Grito de Lares, which is considered to have been the launching point of Puerto Rican nationalism, and is a national holiday. On September 23rd, 1868 between 600 and 1000 men, mostly Puerto Rican born, revolted for independence from Spain. They managed to take Lares without any resistance before the Spaniards became aware if the revolt. They set up a provisional government and declared an independent Puerto Rico Republic. The following day they marched to San Sebastián, where the Spanish militia defeated them. 20 of the indepedentistas escaped, 8 died in action, 7 were tried by the War Council. Four months later Spain declared a general amnesty. No one was executed or kept in jail over 4 months, but 80 had died in jail from yellow fever. Read more Filiberto Ojeda Ríos had released statements every year on the Grito de Lares. Protests have been held in Puerto Rico and US cities such as New York.

Indymedia Puerto Rico | Indymedia.org story About Filiberto Ojeda Ríos | Democracy Now report from 9/29 | Between the Lines interview with Jorge Farinacci | WSWS Article | ProLibertad Freedom Campaign | Article from Movimiento Socialista de Trabajadores | Claridad, Newspaper in PR | Macheteros website