Ponce Massacre/Masacre de Ponce - March 21, 1937

A parade request was made by and granted to the Nationalists in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
As the Cadets of the Republic, youth organization, and the Nurses' Corps gathered in preparation to march, the permit was rescinded.
They were still determined to march, as this was a peaceful march to commemorate the abolition of slavery in Puerto Rico on March 22, 1837 and to demand the release of imprisoned Puerto Rican prisoners, including Pedro Albizu Campos.
No arms were carried by the marchers as, again, this was a peaceful march.
The playing of the Puerto Rican national anthem, the beginning of the march......heavily armed police surround the marchers and order them to halt.
A shot was fired, chaos ensued then machine gun fire from police engulfed the marchers.
In what lasted 10 to 15 minutes...20 dead and more than 150 wounded...became known as the Ponce Massacre (Masacre de Ponce). Seventy two years ago on Palm Sunday, March 21, 1937.

"The purpose was to frighten the whole Puerto Rican people with a show of crude brutality, a massacre."
Juan Antonio Corretjer. Albuzu Campos and the
Ponce Massacre. World View Publishers,1965

"The American Civil Liberties Union recognized the dogmatic , fanatical frame of mind of the 'Nationalists' but concluded that there had been a gross violation of civil rights and incredible police brutality."
Arturo Morales Carrion. Puerto Rico, A Political
and Cultural History. W. W. Norton & Company,1983

A few resources:

-Ponce Massacre - Google
-Masacre de Ponce - Google
-Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico
-Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico - New York
-Puerto Rican Nationalist Youth of New York

Casa de la Masacre de Ponce