Events leading to the revolt Utuado uprising

don pedro albizu campos, leader of puerto rican nationalist party

albizu campos first puerto rican graduate of harvard law school. served second lieutenant in u.s. army during world war i, , believed puerto rico should independent nation - if required armed confrontation. 1930, coll y cuchi departed party because of disagreements albizu campos how party should run. on may 11, 1930, albizu campos elected president of nationalist party.

in 1930s, u.s.-appointed governor of puerto rico, blanton winship, , police colonel riggs applied harsh repressive measures against nationalist party. in 1936, albizu campos , leaders of party arrested , jailed @ la princesa prison in san juan, , later sent federal prison @ atlanta.

on march 21, 1937, nationalists held parade in ponce , police opened fire on crowd, in become known ponce massacre. 19 people killed, including 2 police officers , 17 unarmed puerto ricans - including 7-year old girl, shot in back. although police shot 18 people, albizu campos arrested, , sentenced ten years in u.s. federal prison. campos returned puerto rico on december 15, 1947 after completing ten-year sentence.

on may 21, 1948, bill introduced before puerto rican senate restrain rights of independence , nationalist movements in island. senate, @ time controlled ppd , presided luis muñoz marín, approved bill. bill, known ley de la mordaza (gag law) , law 53, received approval of legislature on may 21, 1948. bill, resembled anti-communist smith law passed in united states, signed law on june 10, 1948, u.s.-appointed governor of puerto rico, jesús t. piñero , became known ley 53 (law 53).

under new law crime print, publish, sell, or exhibit material intended paralyze or destroy insular government; or organize society, group or assembly of people similar destructive intent. accused , found guilty of disobeying law sentenced ten years imprisonment, fine of $10,000 dollars (u.s.), or both.

according dr. leopoldo figueroa, member of partido estadista puertorriqueño (puerto rican statehood party) , member of puerto rico house of representatives did not belong ppd, law repressive , in violation of first amendment of constitution guarantees freedom of speech.

on june 21, 1948, albizu campos gave speech in town of manatí, explained how gag law violated first amendment of u.s. constitution. nationalists on island had gathered - hear campos s speech, , prevent police arresting him.