Letter to Marta Lomar
Aguas Buenas de Puerto Rico, July 11, 1936.
Mrs. Marta Lomar President of the United Front Femenino pro Convención Constituyente San Juan de Puerto Rico
Madam of my highest esteem and greatest respect:
The United Women’s Front for a Constituent Convention, under your worthy presidency, has announced, in compliance with the resolution approved by this patriotic organization at its first National Convention, the celebration of a grand civic parade of the women of Puerto Rico, on the 14th of this month, in protest against the continued imprisonment of our great poet Corretjer and against the process that the Federal Government is following with the purpose of imprisoning the Nationalist leadership.
When the Government of the United States recognized the right of Puerto Rico to its independence, in all of Ibero-America this rectification of the outrage against our sovereign rights was viewed with satisfaction; but continental opinion contemplates with great astonishment that after that act of justice and international respect, the same Government of the United States continues to persecute in Puerto Rico the Nationalist leadership that has been upholding the cause of the independence of its homeland.
[…] harbor plans to produce a riot for unavowable purposes on the day of the parade that the United Women’s Front for Constituent Convention has announced.
They would not be worthy of being called patriots, those men who venture the precious life of a woman without first offering their own.
The recognition of the patriotic sentiment and sense of sacrifice that animates the women of Puerto Rico incorporated in that noble and lofty institution is accomplished, if possible, with this plea that they desist from that resolution to celebrate said parade.
With the deepest devotion,
b.s.p.
Pedro Albizu Campos