Here is the link to the video of what happened yesterday in Rio Piedras:

FBI vs the press

Apparently, the press was trapped between the FBI perimeter and the surging crowd of protesters, but the agent did not make an effort to avoid spraying the people in the front. He even hit other FBI agents. Dumbass. For those who don't understand Spanish, here are the most important pieces of dialogue:

-Chants of "Assassins" by crowd.
-"Vamos que esta graba'o" Probably a camera man saying "Keep at it, we are filming you."
-"No se puede, si hay un tapon en frente!" - Normando Valentín's voice saying he can't move because he is trapped.
-"Abreme el porton"- Another reporter asking the FBI to unlock a gate so they can get out.
-"Qué sacas con darnos?" - Normando Valentín (orange dress shirt) asking the FBI what is solved by hitting them while they are trapped against the gate.

The press is pepper sprayed. Chaos ensues.

Now is time for all you non Spanish speaking people to practice your Spanish:
- "Hijos de puta" Sons of bitches, that's easy
- Cabrones - Cuckolded fucks
- Sucio - Dirty (as in play dirty)
- Racistas or Fascistas cabrones (this is left as an exercise)

The crowd tries to block the FBI cars and hit the windshields, kick the cars, throw stones, break glass, etc. As we say here: un party cabrón.

Then somebody asks Normando (who was peppersprayed in the eyes) where are the cassettes. Normando answers: "What the hell I don't know where are the cassettes!" (without the profanity, but more or less that's the idea)

André Kang, photographer for Primera Hora, closes with : "I am alive, thank God. You will still have to deal with me." (Inside joke with his coworker)



All this shit, for a search warrant (not an arrest warrant) in the fourth floor of the building.

I'm afraid of Americans

Another FBI show of force in Puerto Rico.

A woman and her fucking dog were pepper sprayed. The press was filmed, photographed and pointed at with rifles in Mayagüez; in San Juan, reporters were pepper sprayed. The FBI alleges there are terrorist cells in Puerto Rico. Please. The Macheteros have dedicated the last 20 years to marches and painting murals. The last true Machetero was killed in September 2005, left to die because the FBI says they were afraid the house was rigged. Oh, yeah, sure.

Everybody believes it has something to do with the status. I believe it is the American government's policy of instilling fear on everybody, to make us paranoid and agree blindly to whatever new demand of the citizens the government makes. It is power through fear, keeping us all in line. It worked for a few seconds, even. I am a reporter and have publicly voiced my desire for independence. An ugly combination, for sure. Paranoia is queen, and I have my suspicions, I imagine my political binder must be getting fatter by the minute. Oh well. I won't stay at home anymore when they invite me to political demonstrations. This has awakened an anger at a foreign government who dares to point a gun at my people. Just because they can. I want my country to stay a democracy. I want it to be free of fear.