Origins of the Young Lords

 

Original Young Lords – Chicago 1969

 

 

 

 

The Chicago Young Lords, founders of this Latino movement, were the sons and daughters of the first Puerto Rican immigrants.  They successfully built a national grassroots movement for self-determination within the Barrios of the United States.  It all began when Mayor Richard Daley decided to create an inner city suburb in Lincoln Park and, in the process, displaced the entire neighborhood of the first Puerto Ricans.

 

 

 

 

 

                     Deceased, Italian – Boricua, Angela Navedo

                            with the Founder, Jose (Cha-Cha) Jimenez

 

 

 

 

 

 

( Dates are approximations.)

 

1945 – 1950

            * Luis Munoz Marin becomes first popularly elected Puerto Rican Governor.

            * Fomento replaces sugarcane with industry and tourism in Puerto Rico.

            * U.S. and Mexico in conflict with Bracero Programs.

            * Massive unemployment forces Jibaros to immigrate to U.S. migrant camps.

            * Jibaro “Tomateros” move from migrant camps to large cities.

 

1950

·        Neighborhood barrios of La Clark and La Madison develop in Chicago.

 

1955

·        More massive migration: La Clark and La Madison develop in Chicago.

 

1960

·        Carl Sandburg Village and University of Illinois displaces thousands of Puerto Ricans.

·        Lincoln Park and Wicker Park develop as Puerto Rican Barrios.

·        Sons and Daughters of first immigrants go from Athletic Clubs to Gangs.

 

1968

·        Young Lords thrash urban renewal office.

·        Local Mafia Owned real estate office is picketed.

·        All windows of Anglo businesses on Armitage Ave. are busted and boarded up.

 

January, 1969

·        Wicker Park Welfare Office is stormed by Young Lords and Latinos.

·        Cha-Cha conducts political education classes in his living room.

·        Tijerina and Black Panther literature is shown to Young Lords.

·        200 people picket Chicago Ave. Police Station after arrest of Cha-Cha Jimenez.

 

February, 1969

·        Young Lords got to Corky Gonzales’ Youth Gang Conference in Denver, CO.     

·        Demonstration at Wicker Park Welfare Offices.

·        Cha-Cha is indicted 18 times in a 6-week period, ranging from aggravated battery to police and mob action.

·        Ralph Rivera and Cha-Cha Jimenez design “Tengo Puerto Rico en mi Corazon” button, which becomes symbol of Young Lords.

·        Chicago Ave, Police Workshop is taken over by Young Lords. 

·        Meetings begin with Armitage Avenue Church for space for Young Lords’ programs.

·        Alibizu Campos March.

·        Cha-Cha speaks at University of Puerto Rico; the same day students burn down the ROTC building.

 

 

 

 

 

·        Fred Hampton, Cha-Cha and Young Patriots meet to form `Rainbow Coalition.’

·        Cha-Cha goes on speaking tour with Fred Hampton.

 

April, 1969

·        Young Lords and 350 Latino community residents take over and sit-in at     McKormick Theological Seminary for one week until demands are met.

-         $650,000 to be invested in low income housing.

-         $25,000 opens a clinic in West Town for Lado;

-         $25,000 opens People’s Law Office in Lincoln Park;

-         $25,000 committed but never received for a Young Lords Cultural Center.

·        Mayor Daley, Hanarahan and others call for a `War on Gangs’ to attack Black Panthers and Young Lords.

 

May, 1969

·        Manuel Ramos is shot at Orland Davila’s party by an off-duty policeman, James Lamb.  Four Young Lords are arrested, Policeman was never charged.

·        1000 people join Young Lords in purple berets at St Teresa’s funeral Mass for Manuel Ramos.

·        Puerto Ricans side with Young Lords against police abuse.

·        Young Lords take over People’s Church and set up a Day Care Center, a clinic, a Cultural Center, and National Headquarters.

·        Gang Intelligence Unit and Red Squad station a car 24 hours a day photographing anyone entering Y.L.O. Church.  (Later, it was learned that “Cointel Pro” was also involved in inciting riots, infiltration and creating divisions within the Latino and African-American movements.)

 

June 1969

·        Urban renewal land to be used for a $1000 a year tennis court is taken.  Over 400 people camp out on Armitage and Halsted for a week.  Later, it becomes People’s Park, and playground equipment is added.

·        Police create riot in People’s Park.  Cha-Cha is arrested for mob action.

·        Young Lords march to Humbolt Park with over 10,000 people, many in purple berets carrying Albizu Campos and Manuel Ramos posters

·        Chapter of Young Lords opens in New York.

·        Young Lords join Black Panthers in support of Bobby Seale Conspiracy trial at downtown Federal Building demonstrations.

·        Young Lords visit California and meet with Brown Berets, Black Panthers and Black Berets.

·        Chapter of Young Lords opens in Hayward, CA.

·        Young Lords march with I.W.W.

 

September, 1969

·        Cha-Cha marches with Nationalist Party at Grito de Lares march in Jayuya,  Puerto Rico.

 

 

 

 

 

·        United people to inform good-doers-uptight is formed to discredit Young Lords.  They pass fliers at suburban churches.

·        Alderman McCucheon’s press conference is taken over by Young Lords, McCucheon is exposed for soliciting prostitutes.

·        Caballeros de San Juan vote to support Young Lords.

·        Puerto Rican Bishop, Antullo Parilla, celebrates Mass for Young Lords in Chicago.

·        Cha-Cha and Fred Hampton arrested at Wicker Park Welfare Office. Obed Lopez is beaten by police.  Mary Lou Porrata is assaulted by welfare caseworker.

·        Young Lords visit Alcatraz during Native American take over led by Richard Oakes. Richard Oakes’ baby accidentally drowns.

·        Police attempt to disrupt Young Lords Block Party. Young Lords are arrested, by community protests, and they are released.

 

October, 1969

·        Emeterio Betances Health Clinic screen people door to door for lead poisoning.

·        Murals are painted on church walls.

·        Young Lords donate blood for Puerto Rican businessmen.

 

November, 1969

·        Fred Hampton is arrested for liberating ice cream and giving it to ghetto children.

·        Day Care Center is fined $200 each day it remains open (unless floor is raised 3 feet and ceiling is lowered 3 feet.)

·        Cha-Cha is arrested for $23 theft of lumber, while ten other people flee and escape.  (Later Cha-Cha pleads guilty and receives a one-year maximum sentence.)

 

December, 1969

·        Fred Hampton is murdered by State’s Attorney Hanarahan and Chicago Police.

·        Young Lords attend funeral and vigil.

·        Cha-Cha is told by attorneys not to sleep in same house 2 days in a row.

1970

·        New York Lords and Chicago Lords meet and both agree to work independently as revolutionary companeros.

·        Jose Pancho Lind is murdered by a white street gang. The killer is a brother of a policeman at the scene, and is not arrested.  Young Lords march at court, to no avail.  Case is ruled justifiable homicide.

·        Rev. Bruce Johnson and his wife are both found stabbed to death in their beds.  Rev. Johnson was stabbed 17 times, and his wife 9 times.  Cha-Cha Jimenez is bailed out of jail by Bishop and gives eulogy.

·        Women members of Young Lords meet with Vietnamese Women at Canada Conference.

·        Young Lords march with Methodist Bishop in memory of Rev. Bruce Johnson.  The Rev. Johnson case has never been investigated or solved.

 

 

·        Cha-Cha decides to go underground.  While underground, he forms 2 Chapters of Young Lords, sets up a Training School and works on Young Lords newspaper.

 

December, 1972

·        Cha-Cha turns himself in before 500 people at the Town Hall police station in the 46^th ward, after two years underground.

·        Cha-Cha serves a year sentence and then is released only after putting up $75,000 bond for remaining 10 charges.

·        Cha-Cha plea-bargains and decides to plead guilty for mob action, in return for no jail time and probation.

·        Cha-Cha visits Peoples Republic of China.

 

September, 1973

·        Cha-Cha announces official campaign for alderman of the 46^th ward.

 

February, 1975

·        Cha-Cha comes in 2^nd, getting 39%of the votes in and area with only 1000 Latino registered voters.

 

Mid 1970”s

·        Cha-Cha is sought for an alleged burglary.  While in hiding, the machine controlled Uptown Lerner Newspaper runs same article several times.  The burglary case is unsubstantiated and never goes to trial.

·        FALN Group is arrested.  Cha-Cha is arrested and charged with kidnapping the same week   Demands trial and is released when time expires on speedy trial law.  No witnesses or accusers are brought to court by State’s Attorney.

 

June, 1983

·        Young Lords work together with Puerto Rican Parade Committee.

·        Cha-Cha introduces the newly elected Mayor Harold Washington before a crowd of 100,000 Puerto Ricans in Humbolt Park.

 

Fall, 1995

·        Cha-Cha brings together Tony Baez, Omar Lopez, Carlos Flores, Angel Del Rivero, and Angie Navedo as the Lincoln Park Project.

 

September, 2002

·        Cha-Cha shows support for VIEQUES by celebrating Grito de Lares with opening of Lincoln Park Camp.