Filiberto Ojeda Ríos

Filiberto Ojeda Ríos (1933–2005) was a Puerto Rican political activist and militant who became one of the most prominent figures in the Puerto Rican independence movement during the latter half of the twentieth century. Born in Naguabo, Puerto Rico, Ojeda Ríos initially worked as a farmer and small business owner before becoming deeply involved in leftist political movements during the Cold War era. In 1978, he founded the Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional (Armed Forces of National Liberation), commonly known as the Macheteros, an underground organization that sought to achieve Puerto Rican independence through armed resistance. The group claimed responsibility for several high-profile actions, including bank robberies and attacks on U.S. military installations. Ojeda Ríos spent decades as a fugitive, evading U.S. federal authorities while maintaining his leadership role and public visibility within independence circles. His life became emblematic of the Puerto Rican independence struggle and the tensions between American sovereignty and nationalist aspirations. He was killed in a confrontation with FBI agents in 2005. Ojeda Ríos remains a controversial yet significant figure in Puerto Rican history, viewed differently depending on perspectives regarding independence, sovereignty, and the use of armed struggle.