Antonia Martínez Lagares: An Assasination

On March 4, 1970, 21-year old, Antonia Martínez Lagares stood on a second floor balcony and watched as police officers from the Fuerza de Choque (similar to SWAT team) beat down fellow students. The students were protesting the presence of military recruiters in the University of Puerto Rico (Rio Piedras) and its front known as ROTC. Seeing the actions of the police, Antonia would shout out against the brutality she was witnessing. As told by a student that was present and wounded at the same time, a police officer looked up , drew his gun and shot Antonia. The bullet piercing her head.

The events of that day would leave 100 injured and 1 dead, Antonia Martínez Lagares. Although a police officer was accussed, the accussed was pronounced free of guilt. The real murderer has never been tried before a court for this crime.

The following song was written/performed by Antonio Cabán Vale (El Topo) in her memory:

Antonia

¨Antonia, tu nombre
suena a historia
de un pueblo que se busca
y se ha encontrado en ti.


Antonia, tu nombre
es como el alba;
los pájaros desatan
la luz del porvenir.


Antonia, los pueblos no perdonan…
Un día esta ley se ha de cumplir.


Aquellos que un día derramaron
tus pétalos de sangre
no sabían que así
echaban las semillas en el aire
y, a la vista del pueblo,
habían de surgir.


Tu muerte
la juventud la canta.
Es bandera en sus labios
y es bala de fusil.


Antonia,
aquí estamos presentes
para mostrarle al mundo
la luz que nace en ti.


Antonia, los pueblos no perdonan…
Un día esta ley se ha de cumplir.

Asesinato de Antonia Martínez