Biography
Eduardo “Pancho” Cruz was a Puerto Rican independence activist and pre-law student at City College who founded the student organization PRISA and helped lead the 1968 City College strike. Police arrested him on March 18, 1971. Seven months later, a jury convicted him on six counts involving explosive powder, wristwatch timing devices, and empty cigarette packs. He received a seven-year prison sentence. A February 1973 interview with his defense committee reported that he remained imprisoned at Comstock and had lost sight in one eye while seeking a new trial and bail. His eventual release date remains unresolved.
The June 1, 1973 Militant identified Assistant District Attorney John Fine as the prosecutor who brought the explosive-possession charges against Eduardo “Pancho” Cruz. It reported that Cruz was held at Great Meadow and had been put in solitary confinement after a February 1973 prison protest. Defense attorney Mark Amsterdam filed an appeal on May 8. A proposed transfer to Dannemora was reported, without establishing that it actually occurred.
On February 15, 1973, an appellate judge denied Cruz’s application for bail while he appealed his seven-year conviction. Palante reported that he was being held in solitary confinement at Great Meadows after officials accused him of leading a nonviolent mess-hall sit-down. His sister Iris also described his work as chairman of Comstock’s Committee of Concerned Puerto Ricans, gathering evidence about prisoners’ medical and mental-health treatment.
Palante, Young Lords Party (1973), with Frente Unido insert, PDF page 6; Palante, Young Lords Party (1973), with Frente Unido insert, PDF page 15; Palante, Young Lords Party (1973), with Frente Unido insert, PDF page 19.
