Young Lords

Young Lords
Founder	José Cha Cha Jiménez
Founded	September 23, 1968
Slogan	"Tengo Puerto Rico en mi corazon"

The Young Lords is a socialist organization founded in Chicago that advocates for Puerto Rican independence. They also oppose police brutality and have held anti-war stances, especially against the Vietnam War.

History

The Young Lords was founded in 1959 and was originally a street gang designed to promote the well-being of the Puerto Rican population in Chicago who constantly faced discrimination and oppression in the city.

While imprisoned, Cha Cha met Fred Hampton and was taught about revolutionary ideas. Upon being released, Cha Cha convinced his gang to transform into a revolutionary and political organization in 1968.

They worked together with several other liberation groups like the Black Panther Party and the Young Patriots Organization as part of the First Rainbow Coalition.

The Young Lords moved underground for a while following the assassination of Fred Hampton and other government crackdowns on activist groups.

Recently the Young Lords have been working to rebuild and strengthen their organization. As of June 2022, the group is under new leadership.

Thirteen-point program

The Young Lords adopted the following thirteen-point program in October 1969:

1. We want self-determination for all Puerto Ricans—liberation on the island and in the United States.
2. We want self-determination for all Latinos.
3. We want liberation of all third world people.
4. We are revolutionary nationalists and oppose racism.
5. We want community control of our institutions and land.
6. We want a true education of our creole culture and Spanish language.
7. We oppose capitalists and alliances with traitors.
8. We oppose the AmeriKKKan military.
9. We want freedom for all political prisoners.
10. We want equality for women. Machismo must be revolutionary...not oppressive.
11. We fight anti-communism with international unity.
12. We believe armed self-defense and armed struggle are the only means to liberation.
13. We want a socialist society.

The thirteen-point program was revised in November 1970 but remained roughly the same.