FALN

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FALN Terrorists pardoned

FALN (Armed Forces of National Liberation) was a Marxist "clandestine organization that believed in armed struggle as a means to achieve independence for Puerto Rico".[1]

The FALN terrorists were all pardoned by Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

Background

Excerpt from Politico:[2]

"...from 1974, when the group announced itself with its first bombings, to 1983, when arrests finally destroyed its membership base, the FALN was the most organized, active, well-trained and deadly domestic terror group based in the United States.
The FALN was responsible for over 130 bombings during this period, including the January 1975 explosion in Manhattan’s historic Fraunces Tavern, which killed four and wounded 63. In October of that year, it set off, all within the span of an hour, 10 bombs in three cities, causing nearly a million dollars in damage. In August 1977, the FALN set off a series of bombs in Manhattan, forcing 100,000 workers to evacuate their offices; one person was killed, and six were injured. In 1979, the group even threatened to blow up the Indian Point nuclear energy facility located north of New York City. It later sent a communiqué warning the U.S. to “remember … that you have never experienced war on your vitals and that you have many nuclear reactors.” In 1980, FALN members stormed the Carter-Mondale election headquarters in Chicago, and the George H.W. Bush campaign headquarters in New York, holding employees there hostage at gunpoint. In 1981, they plotted to kidnap President Reagan’s son Ron. Plainly, the group was deadly serious about its objectives—a free, independent and socialist Puerto Rico—and zealous in its pursuit of them.

More background

More than 130 bombings in New York, Illinois and Puerto Rico were attributed to the group, including at least 28 in Chicago. Five people were killed, and 84 were injured, including four police officers.
Between 1975 and 1979, FALN took credit for or was suspected in bomb attacks at the Merchandise Mart, the Chicago Police Department headquarters, Woodfield Shopping Center and a former Marshall Field's department store, among others.
In March 1980, gun-toting sympathizers stormed the Carter-Mondale presidential campaign office in Chicago and held campaign workers hostage.
But a month later, FALN suffered its most severe setback when 11 members were arrested in a stolen truck in Evanston. [3].

The FALN and Macheteros Clemency

A House Report titled "The FALN and Macheteros Clemency: Misleading Explanations, A Reckless Decision, A Dangerous Message"[4] dated December 10, 1999 outlined the history of FALN, their terrorist activities and listed those granted clemency:

References

  1. ↑ To be or not to be, struggling to know themselves (accessed Dec 10, 2023)
  2. ↑ Why Did Obama Free This Terrorist? (accessed Dec 10, 2023)
  3. ↑ http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/puertorico/steven-guerra.htm
  4. ↑ The FALN and Macheteros Clemency: Misleading Explanations, A Reckless Decision, A Dangerous Message (accessed Dec 10, 2023)
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