Los Macheteros: The Wells Fargo Robbery and the Violent Struggle for Puerto Rican Independence (Hardcover)

by Ronald Fernandez (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Los Macheteros (Machete-Wielders) are a group of revolutionaries who are fighting for Puerto Rican independence. The principal impetus for the U.S. to crack down on them came from the theft of $7 million from a Wells Fargo depot in Connecticut purportedly carried out by a guard who was a Macheteros member. In 1985, the FBI rounded up 19 additional individuals also alleged to have been involved in the robbery or the transfer of the money. They are awaiting trial. Using the case as his point of departure, psychologist-sociologist Fernandez traces the history of Puerto Rico (with emphasis on economic exploitation by the U.S.) and its various independence movements and their leaders. He makes a strong case for viewing the Macheteros as patriots and not as terrorists. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1st edition (April 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0139500561
• ISBN-13: 978-0139500565
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,539,916 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful Lesson, December 20, 1999

By	Michael E. Rosado (Cambridge, Ma) - See all my reviews

Fernandez provides a detailed and knowledgeable analysis of an often overlooked political faction in Puerto Rican politics and analyses one of several acts of "terrorism" attributed to the Macheteros. Fernandez also provides the reader with a brief, yet enlightening, history of Puerto Rico and its relations to the United States and in doing so lays the groundwork for an explanation of the motives that lead the "Macheteros" to advocate independence for Puerto Rico by any means necessary. A must read for anyone interested in the hypocrisy of U.S. domestic (foreign to the macheteros) policy and for those interested in finding out some of the history behind the release of the Puerto Rican political prisoners several months ago.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Story They Did Not Tell you, February 4, 2000

By	Gustavo Garcia (San Juan, PR) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a must for those who want to understand Puerto Rico's political situation. In a straightforward way, Ronald Fernandez presents the political and economic aspects of Puerto Rican society. He concisely explains how the island, as a 500-year old colony, evolved through history to acquire its actual form. In this book the reader will find more than the official line. Using the legendary robbery by Los Macheteros (The Machete Wielders) to the Wells Fargo in 1983 as an epicenter, Fernandez presents the story behind the scenes, and explains why Puerto Rico is "an island that handled ignorantly, could easily become America's Northern Ireland."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars VERY WELL RESEARCHED AND WRITTEN, May 5, 2008

By	M. Burgos "Expert Kindle graphics artist, ama... (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Ronald Fernandez did an outstanding job on this book. It is very obvious the level of research he conducted in completing it--at times very daring research. Besides that, his writing style is compelling, and each subsequent chapter pulls you deeper into the story, giving the reader insight into the events and forces that came together to make Victor Gerena the man he became.

I would love to see this book published as a 2nd edition, updated to include the events from the 90s and early 21st century, including the Clinton pardons and the unusual circumstances that lead to the death of Filiberto Ojeda Rios on September 23, 2005, a day that independentistas on the island and abroad celebrate the anniversary of El Grito de Lares.