The History of the Young Lords of Chicago

The Young Lords were formed in 1959 by seven youths. At that time many Puerto Ricans were getting beaten up by white gangs in the area, so the seven formed their own gang for protection. The main purpose and activity was fighting with Italians, “Billigans” (hillbillies), as well as other Latin gangs for control of hangouts, streets, turf. The club grew large and powerful quickly, and formed branches in surrounding areas and high schools so other Latins could join and have hangouts of their own.

During the gang years the YLO was plagued by social workers who were interested in “helping” them—mostly by getting them to play basketball at a local church even though most of the guys had problems with the police, parole officers, drugs, and all the rest.

In 1964 “Cha Cha” [Jiminez] was elected chairman of the Young Lords. He was one of the three who were still around from the original founders. At that time the group began having social activities at a local YMCA. At one of these gatherings trouble broke out over girls, glue-sniffing, and hassles caused by confusion over membership in the various branches of the organization. In 1965 “Cha Cha” got out, organized the club again, and started a group of Lordettes who had their own chairwomen. More socials than before were part of the revival.

Early in 1966 Orlando Davila, another of the original seven, took over as chairman. His term was short, since some of the Young Lords leaders and many of the members were out of Chicago or in jail and the organization suffered. During this time the YLO now included Puerto Ricans, Blacks, Anglos, and other Latins in the area.

A series of fundraising socials was held in February. Money was used to hold a community summer picnic, give a “Month of Soul Dances” with the Black Stone Rangers, give Christmas food baskets and toys to needy families, and try to get an office for the organization. But through all this time members of the YLO began to realize that often they were acting like social workers, not getting at the root causes of the community problems.

One of the things that taught YLO members that an attack on the root causes of their problems was first necessary, and second possible, was the development of relations with groups from other communities and parts of the country. Meetings with people who were conducting other kinds of struggle, who had experience in organizing, and also those who were facing similar problems helped YLO to broaden its goals.

Puerto Ricans didn’t go for that shit, and the windows of the realty companies were busted three different times.

For example, in October YLO was invited to take part in a meeting with all Latin organizations and organizers in Chicago. One thing that was discussed was a possible Education and Training Program for the Latin community with emphasis on youth. (Chicago has 100,000 Puerto Ricans, 190,000 Mexicans, and 60,000 Cubans). At the city meeting people from YLO met with other organizers and formed strong links with some of them. As a result a YLO member went to an International Conference in Canada. Through this broadening contact, YLO became informed about what was happening in the rest of the country with other Latin groups who were engaged in struggle.

In December of 1968 YLO found that three realty companies in the area (Bissell, Crown, and Romano) were planning to move out all the Puerto Ricans from the community. These companies were figuring to buy up the buildings with Latin bars, grocery and clothing stores, and convert the buildings so that other businesses would occupy them and so the people who the Latin businesses served would move. Puerto Ricans didn’t go for that shit, and the windows of the realty companies were busted three different times.

One of the realtors (Fat Larry) started making the rounds of Latin families and storeowners waving a gun in their faces and trying to get them to say that YLO had broken the windows, talking about how he was going to blow some Puerto Rican brains out. Because of his harassment of families YLO decided to mobilize a demonstration and go talk to Fat Larry. On January 11, community people and YLO marched outside the realty office carrying posters while “Cha Cha” went into the office to see Fat Larry.

Larry pulled out a .38 pistol and a machine carbine. He held one in each hand while his sidekick called the pigs. Ten squad cars were on the scene instantly, to “protect” Larry and his guns. The pigs searched “Cha Cha” while Larry, and other pigs dispersed the people outside. Like “Cha Cha” later told a group of community people: “When you have money, the pigs are on your side. You can buy the right to threaten people with guns, especially if the people you threaten are Puerto Rican or poor”.

Not only weren’t they represented on the CCC, not only were they never told of the meetings which decided which houses in their community would be torn down and which remain, but the CCC was now refusing to meet in their presence.

The next day YLO put out a leaflet informing the rest of the community of what had happened, detailing the connection between the real estate company, the political machine of the community, and the local banks. The leaflet asked people to support YLO when future actions were taken. The research, the facts that go out in the leaflet were important in winning the support of the Latin colony and its allies.

In January the all white Community Conservation Council (CCC) which deals with “urban renewal” met. Latins from the area attended the meeting along with the Young Lords. When the members of CCC saw the Young Lords, they got uptight, decided there was no quorum present and told some of the CCC members to leave. Seeing what was happening the Latins got pissed off. Not only weren’t they represented on the CCC, not only were they never told of the meetings which decided which houses in their community would be torn down and which remain, but the CCC was now refusing to meet in their presence. Too much! An argument broke out which resulted in overturned chairs, a broken display, and shattered windows.

It was clear: if the CCC could not or would not serve the community and be under the control of the community, it could not exist. The next month the CCC voted unanimously (after plenty of pressure had been applied) not to meet again until the committee had a majority of Latin and Afro-American representatives.

The day after the community showed the CCC they meant business “Cha Cha” was picked up by the police while rapping to some guys on a street corner. He figured it was for the CCC disturbance, but when they got him to the station he was told, “we just want to talk to you… we want to open lines of communication to the community.” It was the standard ploy and “Cha Cha” didn’t bite—no communication.

So the pig pulled out two old warrants and busted him on them.

In 1967 he had been told that the warrants had been cleared in the court, but that didn’t make much difference. The bond was $2500. The money was raised and “Cha Cha” was out in three hours. But he said the pigs had been talking to each other about the realty company and CCC thing, making sure he heard them talking, but they didn’t have charges to use against him—yet.

That night there was a community School Planning Committee meeting to elect officers which took place at a local high school. Among the blacks, whites and Latins elected was “Cha Cha”, who was elected vice-president. During the meeting people became aware that there were at least 14 plainclothes pigs in the crowd, who admitted who they were only after being recognized and pointed out. Then someone came in and said there were twelve squad cars outside the building. People were mad.

A local minister who attended the meeting, Bruce Johnson, later went to see the local police commander about it.

A thousand bucks had to be raised to get him out. It was raised the same night and he was bailed out.

Johnson told Police Commander Braash [sic] that such police presence hardly encouraged a peaceful and democratic meeting and was especially unfortunate since men like the Young Lords were actively participating in these types of community activities. The commander said he wasn’t going to have a repeat of what happened at the CCC meeting, that he would have police at whatever meeting the YLO attended to make sure trouble was stopped before it began. After all, his job was to protect property, and citizens would have to get used to police at meetings attended by the Young Lords. Until he was convinced that YLO was capable of respecting property and exercising creative, responsible citizenship, police would be where the Young Lords were.

Commander pig was sorry that this disturbed citizens, but after all, he had a job to do. He indicated that if the Young Lords and “Cha Cha” continued to do what they had been doing then he would find a way to put “Cha Cha” or anyone else who acted that way into the pen for good.

And not too long afterwards the commander tried to do just that.

On January 30th “Cha Cha” took a friend to the welfare office. The two of them and other recipients had been there all day with no result. At closing time the women decided they would stay there until they were taken care of, and someone accidently knocked over a coffee pot.

The Assistant Director of the welfare office shoved two women aside in order to rush over and protect sacred Cook County property. “Cha Cha” went up to him, shoved him and said, “Push ME, motherfucker.”

The pigs were called and the assistant director pressed assault and battery charges.

When taken to the police station there was another warrant for his arrest, sworn out by the director of the CCC. The pigs searched for needle marks on his arms and legs, and question him about draft resistance.

Then he was jailed on two charges: assault and battery ($5,000 bail); and mob action (also $5,000). A thousand bucks had to be raised to get him out. It was raised the same night and he was bailed out.

The next day representatives of various organizations and churches met to discuss police harassment as part of the political repression of the Young Lords. The group decided to raise money for YLO and to set up an on-going bail fund for the Lincoln Park area. The group talked about sending a delegation to Commander Braash [sic]. In the end it was decided that those who wanted should go to the monthly police-community workshop, which would be held in two weeks.

The meeting was scheduled to start at 8, but people started coming at 7:20. YLO came with signs: WE WILL NOT TOLERATE PIG ABUSE. PIGS NEED SPORTS CENTERS TO KEEP THEM OFF THE STREET AND END VIOLENCE. YLO SERVES AND PROTECTS. HANDS OF CHA CHA. Guys put the posters up on the wall and the meeting was ready to start.

By 7:30, 300 people were in a room seating only 150. YLO had mobilized Latins while a group called the Concerned Citizens of Lincoln Park had organized Anglos . . . all by word of mouth. Apparently pig “intelligence” hadn’t been hip to it in advance, and they were falling all over themselves trying to deal with the scene.

People filled the seats, the aisles, sat on tables and desks, lined up double against the wall so everybody could get inside. For the time being, the people had taken over the police station.

At 8 the minutes were read. Then a Puerto Rican “Tom” tried to introduce the scheduled speaker. Latins yelled at him, “Shut up Uncle Tom!” A minister moved that the agenda be changed because people had questions for the Commander. Chairman “Tom” refused to consider the motion, and loud jeers broke out. People began to yell, “We demand our rights!” Commander pig and “Tom” conferred. An uncomfortable commander then agreed to answer questions, “if he could.” Before he started he called for a sergeant to come in, while plainclothesmen were taking pictures like crazy. People demanded they stop, called for a vote.

The Commander was reluctant. The vote was unanimous. They stopped taking pictures.

Reverend Johnson began the questioning by repeating what commander pig had said to him about putting “Cha Cha” away for good. Braash [sic] said he didn’t remember saying that and continued to feign ignorance of events in the community. People were yelling, “lying pig,” and assorted “mother-fucker” after every answer. The only straight answer he gave was, yes, they were most likely investigating the YLO. He said police probably came to YLO in answer to anonymous phone calls. Someone asked him if police could function without little old ladies calling up to tell them about “crime and violence”.

He was asked about the killing by a pig of a 15 year old black youth a few weeks before. He said, “according to the officer’s report, a call came in saying a burglary was in progress. When the officer arrived at the scene it was dark. The officer ‘heard’ the youth charge at him with a knife and shot him in self-defense.” Commander pig was satisfied with the officer’s conduct.

Uncle Tom figured his Commander had suffered enough indignity and tried to end the meeting. He ignored a motion passed to continue the meeting. The meeting ended—the first where the Young Lords and community people had done a fine job of exposing the real criminals and murderers in the streets of our communities.

These meetings have resulted in a coalition of support between the groups for future actions against the pigs of Chicago.

The establishment press picked up on the meeting. Their reports explained regretfully that the confrontation had prevented two officers from receiving awards for shooting burglars.

Political and police harassment hasn’t ceased. Since the meeting YLO members, including “Cha Cha” have been picked up often, usually released once at the station. In some cases money has had to be raised to bail out those who were held for crimes like upside down license plates.

If January and February are any indication of what 1969 will be like for Puerto Ricans in Chicago then the answer of the Young Lords is . . . “Right on Brothers!”

On the weekend of February 15-16th YLO and BAD co-sponsored a Third World Unity Conference. B.A.D. stands for Black, Active and Determined and is a group of young black men and women organizing in and around the Cabrini Housing projects, just south of the Lincoln Park area. BAD has been organizing for over a year, in high schools as well as the community. The theme of the conference was “Non-Whites and Latins Unite in the Third World.” Several workshops were part of the program, along with speakers from BAD, YLO and the Chicago Black Panther Party. Plans for further talks and discussions were set up between the three groups.

At a later meeting of the groups, the Young Patriots, a southern white group from the Uptown area became part of the coalition. The Young Patriots have been organizing white youths and community people around similar issues as YLO has and are working a few blocks north of Lincoln Park.

These meetings have resulted in a coalition of support between the groups for future actions against the pigs of Chicago. The Young Lords have also begun publishing a monthly newspaper. The paper is in both Spanish and English, and has many articles on local struggles and problems. In addition there are articles like: “Chicago Blacks Mourn Malcolm,” “Uptown Confronts Pigs”, reprints from the Black Panther paper, well written articles on Nixon maneuvers, millionaire tax dodges, Cuba, Latin history and national liberation struggles.

An editorial called “Why a YLO newspaper?” says, in part, “A Latin American Movement is developing in Chicago for the purposes of putting an end to the injustices, suffering and exploitation which is forced upon on our people. YLO considers itself as part of that movement—a movement that wants a new society in which all people are treated as equal; a society whose wealth is controlled and shared by all its members, and not by a few; a society in which men and women view each other as brothers and sisters and not as people to be exploited and hated.”

After speaking of police brutality, community control, jobs, housing, and imperialism and the need to overcome tendencies toward reformism in Latin American movement, the editorial hopes that the tool of a newspaper can help aid the development of political consciousness in the community and in YLO, help develop revolutionary goals, people, strategy and contacts.

The editorial ends: “The YLO newspaper exists for the benefit of the Latin American community. We welcome all news items and suggestions as to how to make YLO serve more effectively.”

As the Young Lords Organization demonstrated to the Latin Colony that it was truly committed to protecting the interests of Latins in Chicago, its support grew. Many young people and adults wanted to join. But YLO felt that it needed to clarify the path it was taking, to strengthen itself to more effectively tackle the job that had to be done.

YLO realized that its members had to develop greater political consciousness and sophistication if they were to help provide leadership to the Chicago Latin movement. Thus, YLO again reorganized.

During the next few months before the summer, YLO will spend most of its energies in educating itself: learning what needs to be done to change it. Besides setting up study groups for all its members and training in karate, YLO will participate in Latin activities that require protection from the pigs and co-sponsoring events that aim at educating the people as to what is happening and what Latins need to do in order to resolve the present situation. By the middle of the summer, YLO should be prepared to work out a more systematic offensive against the injustices plaguing the Latin colony.

There are 350,000 Latins within the city of Chicago, and 12 million Latins in the US (not counting the 2 and 1⁄2 million in Puerto Rico). In light of their objective conditions, it is clear that basic change in this country, and thus throughout the world, will require the mobilization and leadership of brown people—as well as black people. The developing Latin struggles for independence and freedom in the Southwest, in Puerto Rico, and in the northern cities will be a key part of the present revolution.

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From The Young Lords Speak: Building Revolution on the Streets of Chicago. Used with the permission of the publisher, Haymarket Books. Copyright © 2026 by Hilda Vasquez Ignatin, edited by Jacqueline Lazú