The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.63/No.10           March 15, 1999 
 
 
Frame-Up Trial Of Puerto Rican Nationalist Opens In Chicago  

BY PATTIE THOMPSON
CHICAGO - The case of the United States v. José Solís Jordán opened here March 2. The FBI is trying to frame Solís, a longtime supporter of the fight for Puerto Rican independence, for a 1992 bombing outside a military recruitment facility in Chicago. He is being charged with conspiracy to destroy government property, destruction of government property by means of explosives and arson, attempted destruction of government property by explosive devices and illegal possession of explosives.

The lead witness for the government against Solís is Rafael Marrero, who at one time functioned in the Puerto Rican independence movement in Chicago. He claims to have planted the alleged bombs, and has been given immunity to testify against Solís. On the witness stand, Marrero itemized having been paid $119,000 by the FBI over the last three and a half years.

Solís is a professor of educational philosophy at the University of Puerto Rico and a longtime activist in the fight for Puerto Rican independence. From 1992-1995, Solís taught in the education department at DePaul University here.

"The prosecution has charged a leading Puerto Rican intellectual with a crime he did not commit," said Jed Stone, lead attorney for the defense, in his opening statement in court. "There were two devices as described by the prosecution. They never detonated; nobody was hurt. Marrero will tell you [Marrero] was there and he planted it. José Solís had nothing to do with it!"

The police say they found two devices, one in the military recruiting center and one under a car outside. According to a technical witness who testified March 3, neither detonated, but the one under the car caused a fire.

About 35 supporters attended the opening day of the trial, many of them students from high schools and universities in the city. Members of the Union of Puerto Rican Students at Northeastern University in Chicago who came to the trial said they will be holding a presentation by José Solís: "Puerto Rico and the Plebiscite: the Hope of Decolonization" March 5 at 7:00 p.m.

FBI intimidation plays a significant role in this case. On the morning of Nov. 6, 1997, well over a dozen heavily armed FBI agents surrounded Solís's home in a suburb of San Juan, Puerto Rico. They released pepper spray into his house, and then, in front of his terrified children, handcuffed him and took him into custody.

The cops transported him to a U.S. government building where he was interrogated for more than five hours before he was allowed to speak to his lawyer. Federal agents did not inform Solís of his counsel's presence in the building until two and a half hours after the lawyers arrival.

Leading up to the trial, Solís spoke before several meetings at area campuses and rallies. Under the banner: "Support José Solís! - Support the Puerto Rico's Right to Self-Determination - Stop FBI Harassment of the Puerto Rican Community," 120 people gathered February 20 in the Puerto Rican Cultural Center to learn more about how to support Solís' case. There his legal team laid out the defense strategy and urged everyone to come and show their support in the courtroom as often as possible.

At that rally attorney Stone, in answer to a question on what the jury will be allowed to hear, pointed out the government had filed a motion to prevent this case from being political but the judge ruled against them. "The jury will learn a substantial amount of politics. José Solís stands for the right of people to self-determination, to choose their own political future."

Linda Backiel, Solís's lawyer from Puerto Rico, pointed to the direct connection of this case to the local community. "This case is about destroying the Puerto Rican community in Chicago by destroying its leaders, going after its community institutions, the schools, health centers, etc., that respond to its needs."

The key government witness for the case against Solís was also the key witness for the recent Illinois state legislative committee investigation accusing the local school council and supporters of Puerto Rican independence at Clemente High School in Chicago of misusing federal funds. On January 7 the committee announced it found no illegal activity involving those funds.

José López, director of the Cultural Center, fit this case into years of government and right-wing attacks on the Puerto Rican community and anyone who is active teaching the truth about U.S. colonial occupation of Puerto Rico. Underlining the stakes involved for the entire Puerto Rican community and the democratic rights of all, he urged everyone present to attend the trial and help finance the defense.

Nearly $2,700 was raised from donations, pledges, and in proceeds from the dinner. Latinos United, a student organization at Columbia University, announced they would be meeting their pledge through fund-raising activities on campus.

Many of the meetings in the last few weeks were organized as lectures focusing on the history of U.S. colonial plebiscites in Puerto Rico up through the most recent one last December and how the U.S. government holds power over every decision to date on Puerto Rico's status. At the meeting at DePaul University, the discussion afterwards lasted more than an hour. The question, "Why won't they let Puerto Rico be free?" came up in every meeting.

Other public meetings centered on what this case is about. In them Solís emphasized, "This case is not about me and they know it. This case is just the next one for this moment in a long chain of people who know that Puerto Rico has a right to self-determination. It will not be done until the U.S. recognizes our right to be free and our right to have our political prisoners at home where they belong. We will not be silenced."

On March 1 across the street from the trial, "Grand Jury, FBI, U.S. Justice is a lie," was the chant of 40 protesters in front of the Dirksen Federal Building marching to the beat of percussion by supporters of the Pedro Albizu Campos Alternative High School.

Mervin Méndez of the Committee in Solidarity with José Solís led off the rally tying the current FBI harassment with the experiences of the Puerto Rican community with the city red squads and Cointelpro activities in the 1960s and '70s.

Supporters are urged to attend the trial Mondays through Thursdays 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. at the Dirksen Federal Building at Jackson and Dearborn in Chicago in the courtroom of Blanche Manning Room 2125. It is estimated the trial will run for several weeks.

Contributions to Solís defense fund can be sent to José Solís Jordán Defense Fund, c/o The Law Offices of Jed Stone, 434 W. Ontario, Suite 400 Chicago, IL 60610.

The Committee in Solidarity with José Solís Jordán is at P.O. Box 577826 Chicago, IL 60657-7826 (312) 409-0801. Updates by the committee are available at www.defendsolis.org. E-mail can be directed to solis42566@aol.com.

Pattie Thompson is a member of the International Association of Machinists.

 
 
 
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