Marion Brothers

Marion Brothers

Thursday, May 29, 2008

My Mentor: Puerto Rican Rafael Miranda Wins Cuba's Highest Honor

Some communications dating back to Tuesday, November 1, 2005

From: "Bonnie Kerness"
To: "Eddie Griffin"

Eddie, I had quite a lot of contact with Standing Deer after his release – and he did have some happy days. Some in the Native community feel that he was set up to be murdered. I just heard that Leonard was recently transferred to Lewisburg, but I have not investigated that. Rafael Cancel Miranda is still alive and is speaking in Philly this weekend, I think. And I made a mistake. Jose Lopez , in Chicaco, is Oscar Rivera Lopez’s brother. I haven’t heard from Kom’boa in a while either, but I do know that he had a web site. I just googled in his name and came up with a ton of stuff I don’t have the time to go through. It was so good to see his photo! Got to go do some work here!

Bonnie Kerness, Coordinator
Prison Watch Project
American Friends Service Committee
89 Market Street - 6th floor
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Phone: 973-643-3192
Fax: 973-643-8924

Unforgotten Eddie Griffin

In the 1950s, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Isles had become a whorehouse for gringo imperialists, who loved to use the islands as their private playgrounds. They had turned the indigenous people into dispossessed maids and servants and prostitutes.

Long before the 1959 Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro and Che Guevara had a hero named Rafael Cancel Miranda. Each Christmas, Castro would send a box of Cuban cigars to Rafael on Isle of Alcatraz.




One of the most widely known and respected women from the 20th century Puerto Rican liberation struggle is Lolita Lebrón.

Lolita Lebron is arrested on March 1, 1954, after an armed assault on Congress in support of Puerto Rico’s liberation.
Photo: AP Photo

On the morning of March 1, 1954, members of the House of Representatives were meeting to discuss immigration policy and the government of democratically elected President Jacobo Árbenz of Guatemala—a government that the CIA overthrew in November of that year. The four patriots calmly entered the Capitol building, passing through the lobby and up the stairs to a balcony designated for visitors.

As the proceedings went on, the Nationalists unfurled the Puerto Rican flag. Lolita Lebrón then shouted, “Que viva Puerto Rico libre!” Within seconds of brandishing and aiming their automatic weapons, the four revolutionaries opened fire on the U.S. Congress.

Gunfire broke out and bullets whistled through the air. Panic erupted in the chamber. Many congressional figures and their staff began screaming as they frantically pushed one another to get to the exit doors. Others avoided being shot by running to hide underneath tables and behind chairs.

Before it ended, 30 rounds were fired. Five congressmen were wounded. All government buildings were shut down, and security throughout the city of Washington was increased.

The four Nationalists were immediately apprehended. The mass media launched a campaign to demonize them and the whole Puerto Rican independence movement. The four were ultimately convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.


Eddie Griffin, an inmate journalist, published the story of Miranda in the Black Pride prison newspaper. The world had almost forgotten about the four Puerto Rican Nationalists, until Angela Davis created the National Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression. Here is the story that was told to me, reprinted in the Militant, August 14, 2006. Briefly, my heart leaped for joy that my friend and mentor, Rafael was still alive.

The last time I saw him we were on a hunger strike, started July 4, 1976, the Bicentennial anniversary. In 1977, Rafael Cancel Miranda was a Marion Brother, an internationally recognized political prisoner, along with three other of us.

July 7, 2006 – In a ceremony in Havana, Rafael Cancel Miranda was awarded the José Martí Order, the highest honor issued by the Cuban government to non-Cuban leaders.

Here is the story of my mentor in prison (1973-1976), Rafael Cancel Miranda: [Excerpt from “Puerto Rican independentista Rafael Cancel Miranda speaks in Havana: ‘I was expelled by Batista regime, embraced by Cuban revolutionaries’”]

Militant, Vol. 70/No. 30 August 14, 2006

4 comments:

  1. I have one of the pistols used by lolita lebron...it was given to me by my grandfather......I am going to take it to the antiques roadshow in chattanooga tn on july 19......

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  2. WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OPPOSES YOUR RIGHT TO BE FREE!!

    Puerto Ricans, who desire to be free, must always know that the federal government, here in the states has no “subject matter jurisdiction” over the person, case or location and should be challenged to proof it.

    All jury members, judges, attorneys, and employees working in federal court, must reside in federal territory to be a federal juror or touch your case or they can be commercially sued, disbarred and financially ruined for violating your constitutional rights etc.

    Your god given right to be free is not wanted by the USA, it will oppose your desire for independence and freedom.

    The USA has been the biggest alien invaders the world has ever known. In order to win your freedom you must oppose them by knowing that their weakness lies in the constitution and the common law and common law remedies.

    To win --You must always reserve your constitutional, commercial rights and know what they are.

    The majority of Anglos have no idea that the USA has killed more Latins, than Hitler Killed Jews, The USA has supported traitors, Gringitos, Butchers, Sociopaths, and Megalomaniacs who were supported and kept in power by sucking up to the Anglo Alien Invaders.

    Latin America has had enough of this form of genocide of Latinos.

    I want to vomit every time some ignorant fools says: “If you don’t like it here –go home”.

    If the Alien Invaders would get out of each and every Latin Country and stop interfering in our affairs—it would make sense to say such a stupid thing. But unless the Snakes get out of Latin America-we have just as much right to be here!!!

    A Puerto Rican without a desire for independence has no soul of a man.

    The fact that the public does not know that we are NOT free, makes no difference, to the desire to be free. The PR that wants statehood is a Gringito, who has no soul of a man left in his traitor's heart. Freedom is happening all over the world and yet we allow Gringitos to kill our right to be free.

    We allow the Alien Invaders to kill, harm, abuse and scam us and yet the Gringito wants to give our Country away.

    This abuse must end. No man or woman is a real Man or real woman who is too scared to fight for their souls and be free.

    The fight will NOT succeed if you don't fight the enemy at home first. He is there next door and claims he is a real man and tries to give you many excuses of why PR can't be a free Country.

    If you listen, you will lose your soul.

    The Ronbothunter,

    Ex-scientologist and a proud freedom loving Puerto Rican.

    All Rights Reserved

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  3. is Rafael Cancel Miranda is alive?

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  4. I cannot say for certain, except that I saw a YouTube video of him making a speech in 2006 (I believe). Until this day, he still thinks that I am dead, that prison guards killed me.

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