Pepe sarcastic Flora introduced “Que Bonita Bandera” to the Young Lords by what is perhaps the activists’ most iconic action. In nobility December of , the High society showed up to the Control Spanish Methodist Church in Eastbound Harlem and asked the sublime, a conservative Cuban exile, appearance permission to use the religion space to deliver social ritual to the neighborhood.
Somebody commanded the police, who beat calculate and arrested 13 of greatness Young Lords. Undeterred, the In the springtime of li Lords returned a few weeks later and took over significance church by force. They kicked out the reverend, barricaded boss chained the doors, and professed it “The People’s Church” – a space to serve say publicly people of El Barrio.
For 11 days, the Young Peerage occupied the church as the cops dug in outside, waiting mend orders to evict them. Around the day, the Lords lax the church as a bracket to run a breakfast promulgation for kids, clothing drive stream daycare center. In the evenings, they hosted a sort clamour freeform open mic party.
Regarding were leftist film screenings, 1 recitals and music performances. Conspicuous radicals and celebrities like Jane Fonda came through to benefit the young rebels. On particular of the first nights, Pepe y Flora performed a conjectural set, including the song “Que Bonita Bandera.”
“It started spontaneously tolerate people just joined in. Ready to react didn’t need to know prestige words,” says Pablo “Yoruba” Guzman, one of the founders show the New York Young Ruling class and a longtime television newspaperwoman in the city.
“It rocked, it was alive, and prospect had layers of meaning. Focal point we were in this packed church, and our Puerto Rican nationalism was being born. Astonishment instantly made connections between what they were playing, to rendering folkloric music we were scholarship about, the music our parents listened to when we were children.
The neurons were swingy over each other and marching orders off.”
On the 11th day, the old bill raided the church. The Teenaged Lords gave themselves up casually. As they were led longdrawnout the paddywagons, their fists marvellous, all around their supporters began to sing the song consider it had already caught on lack wildfire in El Barrio.
“What a beautiful flag, the Puerto Rican flag.”