The History and Legacy of the Puerto Rican Flag
The Grito de Lares Flag (1868)
Our journey begins with the Grito de Lares, Puerto Rico’s first major uprising against Spanish colonial rule. Designed by Dr. Ramón Emeterio Betances and sewn by Mariana Bracetti, this flag featured two sky‑blue and two red rectangles crossed by a white Latin cross and a lone white star. It symbolized sacrifice, redemption, liberty, and homeland—embodying the desire for independence. In 1952, the town of Lares honored its legacy by adopting it as their official municipal emblem.
La Monoestrellada: The 1895 Revolutionary Flag
A new standard emerged in New York City in December 1895: La Monoestrellada, modeled after Cuba’s flag with inverted colors. It represented solidarity between Puerto Rican and Cuban independence efforts. Latvia adopted it in Puerto Rico during the Intentona de Yauco in March 1897. Spanish colonial authorities quickly banned the flag after that rebellion.
The Modern Puerto Rican Flag (1952)
The current flag—five stripes (three red, two white), a blue triangle, and a star—was officially adopted on July 25, 1952, aligned with Puerto Rico’s new Commonwealth status. Red symbolizes blood, white stands for liberty and peace, the star represents the island, and the blue triangle signifies the government branches.
From Repression to Resistance: Law 53 – The Gag Law (1948‑1957)
After the U.S. invasion in 1898, the display of the Puerto Rican flag became a felony. The introduction of Law 53 of 1948, known as La Ley de la Mordaza. Criminalized owning or displaying the Puerto Rican flag, singing “La Borinqueña,” and expressing support for independence—offenses punishable by up to ten years in prison or a $10,000 fine.
Stories of Repression:
In Ponce (1937), during a peaceful march, protests involving the banned flag resulted in 19 deaths, including a flag-bearer. One young woman was shot while attempting to retrieve and safeguard the fallen flag. The massacre lasted roughly 15 minutes.
In 1950, during the Jayuya Uprising, Puerto Rican nationalists raised the flag over town halls in defiance of the law—soldiers forcibly removed it.
Francisco Matos Paoli, a poet and Nationalist, was arrested after police found only a Puerto Rican flag at his home. He received a 20-year prison sentence (later reduced), though no weapons were discovered.
Nationalist Defiance: The 1954 U.S. Capitol Attack
On March 1, 1954, four Puerto Rican nationalists—including Lolita Lebrón—opened fire from the visitors’ gallery in the U.S. House of Representatives while unfurling the Puerto Rican flag. Their protest aimed to draw global attention to the island’s colonial status. Though no lawmakers died, five were wounded. The attackers received long sentences, later commuted by President Carter in the late 1970s.
Repeal and Recovery (1957 Onward)
Widespread defiance and civil rights pressure led to the repeal of the Gag Law in 1957. The flag was restored as a legal symbol. Puerto Ricans slowly regained the right to celebrate their heritage publicly.
Why the Flag Still Matters Today
It became a symbol of protest during recent political uprisings, including the mass demonstrations that led to Governor Rosselló's resignation in 2019. Proud citizens display it as an act of cultural pride and resistance BustleThe New Yorker.
Bad Bunny powerfully references this history in his song “LA MuDANZA,” singing:
“They killed people here for waving the flag, that’s why I carry it anywhere I go.” He refers directly to the Gag Law era and the repression Puerto Ricans endured for asserting their identity
The Puerto Rican flag is more than fabric and color—it is a living narrative of resistance, identity, and survival. From heroic uprisings to the repression of Law 53, it has symbolized both suffering and defiance. Today, when Puerto Ricans display it proudly, they honor the memory of those who risked—and sometimes lost—their lives for the right to be seen and heard.
