Carlos Gallisa to Speak on “The Colonial Case of Puerto Rico”

Carlos Gallisa

What: Carlos Gallisa, a prominent advocate for Puerto Rican independence, will deliver a speech entitled, “The Colonial Case of Puerto Rico.” The event is sponsored by Trinity’s Center for Urban and Global Studies, the Office of Community Relations, and the Colectivo Puertorriqueno Pro Independencia.

When: Thursday, October 1 ~ 6 p.m.

Where: The Vernon Social Center on the campus of Trinity College
114 Vernon Street, Hartford, Conn., 06106

Background: Gallisa has been called one of the most important Puerto Rican political thinkers of our time. His speech will be of interest to those who seek a deeper understanding of the debate over Puerto Rican independence and identity.

A native of Camuy, Puerto Rico, Gallisa is a graduate of the public school system of Puerto Rico. He graduated from the University of Puerto Rico in 1955 with a B.A. in business administration. He then served two years in the U.S. Army and after his discharge in 1957, he took a job with the Economic Development Administration, a post he held until 1964. A year later, he earned a law degree from the University of Puerto Rico Law School and entered private practice.

Soon after, Gallisa rose to the rank of vice president of the Puerto Rican Independence Party and in 1972 was elected to the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico. In 1973, he left the party and joined the Puerto Rican Socialist Party (PSP). In 1983, Gallisa was elected Secretary General, the party’s top post, which he occupied for 10 years.

During his tenure as secretary general of the PSP, Gallisa worked for the organizations concerned with helping nations adversely affected by colonialism, including the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement. He emerged as an internationally renowned advocate for solidarity, and he used his position to agitate for Puerto Rican independence. The case of Puerto Rico is now under scrutiny by the Decolonization Committee of the U.N.

After leaving the job of secretary general, Gallisa became director of Claridad, the weekly newspaper of the independence movement, with which he remains an influential contributor through his work as a columnist. For the past eight years, he has been featured as a political analyst on Puerto Rico’s highest-rated radio talk show. He is working on a book that looks at the last period of Spanish colonialism in Puerto Rico, as well as the 111 years of U.S. influence that have followed. The book is expected to be published by the end of this year.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Jason Rojas at 860-297-4166 or at jason.rojas@trincoll.edu.

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