Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos was the most prominent of all Puerto Rican leaders. He had the support of many Puerto Ricans for the liberation of Puerto Rico and he struggled with his people to prevent colonialism. Before being elected president of the Nationalists Party of PR, Dr. Albizu Campos traveled throughout Latin America to get the support of all these countries. Of these, he went to Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Peru. Dr. Albizu Campos felt that the US, which controlled the media, suppressed the struggle and it would be the only way to gain international support. When he returned from Latin America in 1930, he immediately became the new president of the Nationalist Party.

One of the greatest problems he faced in separating PR from the United States was the fact that Puerto Ricans were too dependent on the US. They felt that PR could not survive without the US. He continued to fight for the struggle for Puerto Rican independence.

On November 2, 1950, Albizu was arrested for violating Law 53 and other colonial laws. He was found guilty of sadicious conspiracy, and sentenced to a total of 72 years, an excessive number, in La Princesa Penitentiary in San Juan, Puerto Rico. During this time, the US was experimenting with radiation in the Princesa prison. Albizu-Campos was one of the unfortunate prisoners to be experimented upon, without consent or warning for this radiation. He had his first radiation attack on Feb 21, 1951, which left him unconscious. Another attack occurred on May 9, 1951. From then on, between 1951 and 1953, he suffered six to eight new radiation attacks. Soon, Albizu began to protect his head and body with wet towels because of the intense heat in his body as a result of the radiation. He accused his captors of trying to kill him and that eventually he would experience a heart attack or a stroke. The US government suggested a story saying that Albizu was insane and that this would truly discredit his role as a national leader.

Pedro after radiation

Soon, his lawyers filed protests about his condition and the radiation. Albizu's health deteriorated and he received no medical attention. He was mistreated and abandoned to die. Many people and lawyers tried to get Pedro Albizu Campos free but were unsuccessful. The only relief received for Albizu was to get some medical assistance, where he was put in a hospital as a prisoner but then released and put back in prison. Many doctors were able to examine Albizu and test for any signs of radiation. The President of the Cuban Cancer Association, Dr. Orlando Damuy, traveled to PR to examine him. The burns on his body were reported by Dr. Damuy, where he diagnosed that they were the cause of intense radiation. When they placed a metal paper clip with a film on Albizu's skin, the clip was radiated into the film. On Sunday, March 25, 1956, Albizu suffered a stroke. He did not receive any medical attention for 5 days, instead suffering.

Pedro Albizu-Campos finally died on April 21, 1965. More 75,000 Puerto Ricans carried the remains of his body to the Old San Juan Cemetery. His torture and experiments with radiation had finally come to an end. All of his work and pain had come to an end. Millions of Latinos around the world will always remember him as the last and best American liberator. Pedro Albizu Campos dedicated his life to serve his people and was rewarded with life in prison and radiation.

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