El Grito de Lares
The people of Puerto Rico were living under tyrannical rule imposed by the oppressive power of Colonial Spain.
On September 23, 1868, Puerto Ricans had reached their limit and rose against the mistreatment and oppression of the Colonial Spaniards who ruled Puerto Rico. This Spanish tyranny lead to a revolutionary movement in the town of Lares, the outcry known as “El Grito de Lares”, and the creation of the first Puerto Rico Flag – signifying the independence of Puerto Ricans from their Colonist occupants.
The First Puerto Rican Flag
During that time, the first concept of the National first Puerto Rico flag emerged, the flag of the revolutionaries, deeply symbolizing the ideals of the Grito de Lares revolution. Independence leader Ramon Emeterio Betances designed the first Puerto Rican flag, inspired by the design of the Dominican Republic’s flag due to the common ideal of being free from Spain and uniting to form the Antillean Confederation.
The flag was embroidered by Mariela Bracetti.
This was the first Puerto Rico flag was proclaimed the national flag of the Republic of Puerto Rico by Francisco Ramirez Medina, the first President.