The Young Lords: Puerto Rican Revolutionary Activism in the Diaspora

The Young Lords were the Puerto Rican revolution in the belly of the beast — fighting colonialism not in Puerto Rico but in the streets of Chicago and New York.

Origins:
- The Young Lords began as a street gang in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood in the 1960s
- Under the leadership of José 'Cha Cha' Jiménez, the organization transformed from a gang into a political movement — inspired by the Black Panther Party, the Puerto Rican independence movement, and Third World liberation struggles
- In 1969, the New York branch was founded — it quickly became the most prominent chapter

The New York Young Lords:
The New York branch, known as the Young Lords Party, became a major force:
- Felipe Luciano: Poet and first chairman of the NY branch
- Juan González: Activist and later renowned journalist (NY Daily News, Democracy Now!)
- Pablo 'Yoruba' Guzmán: Minister of Information
- Denise Oliver-Velez: Deputy Minister of Education — one of the few women in leadership
- Iris Morales: Documentary filmmaker who preserved the Young Lords' history

Key Actions:
1. The Garbage Offensive (1969): The Young Lords collected uncollected garbage in East Harlem and set it on fire in the streets — forcing the city's Sanitation Department to improve service to the Puerto Rican neighborhood
2. The People's Church (1969-1970): They occupied the First Spanish Methodist Church in East Harlem, turning it into a community center providing free breakfast, health testing, and political education
3. Lincoln Hospital takeover (1970): They occupied Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx — demanding better healthcare for the community and exposing the hospital's abysmal conditions. This action led to the discovery of widespread lead poisoning in children
4. TB testing: Door-to-door tuberculosis testing in East Harlem — after being refused testing equipment by the city
5. Free breakfast program: Modeled on the Black Panthers' program — feeding children before school

The 13-Point Program:
The Young Lords' platform included:
1. Self-determination for Puerto Rico (and all Latinos)
2. Self-determination for all Third World people
3. Liberation of all political prisoners
4. Community control of institutions and land
5. True education of Puerto Rican history and culture
6. Free healthcare
7. Opposition to racism
8. Equality for women
9. Opposition to the military draft
10. Socialism

Legacy:
The Young Lords' legacy extends far beyond their brief organizational life:
- They demonstrated that Puerto Rican communities could organize for power
- They inspired generations of Latino activists
- Their healthcare activism directly improved conditions in New York's public hospitals
- Members went on to influential careers: Juan González became one of the most important journalists in the U.S.
- The organization modeled intersectional politics — connecting Puerto Rican liberation to Black liberation, feminism, and anti-imperialism
- Their story is preserved in the documentary 'Palante, Siempre Palante!' and numerous books