Albizu Campos criticizes Benigno Fernández García
I have read this accusation as it appears poured forth in the important organ “El País”. I have combated the licenciado Benigno Fernández García, firstly, for his negligence and his indifference before the assassinations perpetrated in Río Piedras, Ponce and Utuado, by the Police, without him taking in his character as Attorney General any determination to suspend from employment and salary and legally process those responsible for these unheard-of assassinations. With that indifference and negligence of señor Fernández García, a considerable number of the Police came to believe that they enjoyed immunity to commit any misdeed; and they emboldened themselves to such a point as to assassinate in their own headquarters two national heroes: Beauchamp and Rosado, behind closed doors, shooting at their victims, in an orgy that no pack of savages could surpass, more than 50 shots.
We have seen, however, with pleasure, that the licenciado Benigno Fernández García, in his character as Attorney General, has arranged to bring before public justice those responsible for the assassinations perpetrated by the Police in San Juan and in Ponce and we trust that he will do the same in the case of Utuado and in the most serious case of Río Piedras.
However, we believe that it constitutes an injustice, to attribute to Lcdo. Benigno Fernández García, the commission of such infamy, which is that of supplying to the authorities of the
La Palabra, March 2, 1936, p. 9. and El Mundo, March 8, 1936, p. 1.
Yankee empire proof to indict and condemn Puerto Ricans committed to liberating their Homeland. I do not believe that any Puerto Rican is capable of an act of high treason such as that. In view of the Puerto Rican national indignation against the excesses of the Yankee imperialist regime in Puerto Rico in these decisive moments of our history, and conscious of the spontaneous reaction that information of that nature may cause, we hasten to manifest that such an assertion constitutes a moral impossibility. The decisive moment of the Homeland’s history that we are living has united us in a single body, with a single soul. We have mutually forgiven each other any grievance, no matter its nature, and as a phalanx of patriots inspired by the soul of valor and sacrifice, we defy the Yankee empire that intends to crush us with its force. If to maintain the unity of the Homeland, which is its only salvation, unity reacquired by the painful process of misery and death of thousands of Puerto Ricans, all beloved, the offering of our life and that of our adored beings is required, before the Altar of the Homeland the sacred offering will be made.