Influential Puerto Rican Activist Group the Young Lords Marks 40th Anniversary

In late July 1969, the group staged their first action in an effort to force the city of New York to increase garbage pick-up in East Harlem. The Young Lords would go on to inspire activists around the country as they occupied churches and hospitals in an attempt to open the spaces to community projects.

The group called for self-determination for all Puerto Ricans, community control of institutions and land, freedom for all political prisoners and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam, Puerto Rico and other areas.

The Young Lords would also play a pivotal role in spreading awareness of Puerto Rican culture and history. While the group disintegrated in the mid-1970s, its impact is still felt today.

This Sunday members of the Young Lords are planning to come together to mark the 40th anniversary of the group’s founding. The event will take place at the First Spanish Methodist Church, the same church on East 111th Street that the group took over in late 1969 to house free breakfast and clothing programs, health services, a day-care center, a liberation school and community dinners. The occupation ended in January 1970 when police raided the church, arresting 106 members of the Young Lords.

Attendees on Sunday will include Democracy Now co-host Juan Gonzalez, who served as the first Minister of Education for the Young Lords.

We will speak with Juan and two other former members of the Young Lords in a few minutes but first we turn to excerpts from the documentary “!Palante, Siempre Palante! The Young Lords” by filmmaker Iris Morales.

Excerpts from the documentary “Palante, Siempre Palante! The Young Lords” by filmmaker Iris Morales. For more information on the film visit its website.

To talk more about the Young Lords, we have three former members of the organization here at the Firehouse.

Juan Gonzalez, New York Daily News columnist and Democracy Now! co-host. He served as the group’s first Minister of Education.

Luis Garden Acosta, former member of the Young Lords. He is the founder, president and CEO of El Puente, a community human rights institution in Brooklyn, New York.

Mickey Melendez, former member of the Young Lords and author of the book We Took the Streets: Fighting for Latino Rights with the Young Lords.

Related Links

• “Palante, Siempre Palante! The Young Lords” - Film Website