Puerto Rican Independence Party
The Puerto Rican Independence Party -- or Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño (PIP for its abbreviation in Spanish) -- is a Puerto Rican political party that stants for the independence of Puerto Rico from the United States.
Those who follow the PIP ideology are called independentistas.
History
Historically, the PIP has done poorly in Puerto Rican elections, always losing to either the Popular Democratic Party (PPD for its abbreviation in Spanish) or the New Progressive Party (PNP for its abbreviation in Spanish).
Foundation
The party was founded in 1946.
1990s
During the late 1990s, PIP leaders, especially Ruben Berrios, became involved in the protests by many citizens of the town of Vieques against the presence of the military there (see: The Cause of Vieques).
Party logo
The PIP's symbol is a green flag. Because of this, it is identified as the green party, both with the voting public and in the election ballots.
Controversies
Many among the general public have associated the party with violent acts of terrorism such as those committed by Los Macheteros. However, the party has never acknowleged links to any attacks, insisting that they want independence through peaceful means, and no proof has ever been found to corroborate these allegations.
See also: The Maravilla Hill Case.