JUAN ANTONIO LARROY RODRIGUEZ
BAYAMON, PUERTO RICO
Attention: Mr. Dominic Masalesa
Email: [email protected]
Subject: Road Name Change - Leila Khaled Drive
Leila Khaled helped murder my fellow pilgrims. Please, don't honor her.
Dear City Manager of Johannesburg, Floyd Brink,
My name is Juan Antonio Larroy Rodrfguez, also known as Tony Larroy, and I am 80 years old. 1 come from Arecibo, Puerto Rico, and I am a Christian. I am also a survivor of the Lod Airport massacre, a day that changed my life forever. Seventeen of my countrymen, including my girlfriend, were killed that day. Leila Khaled had a hand in that tragedy, and l'm writing to make sure you know the truth about what she did.
I recently heard through international news that the Johannesburg City Council is considering renaming Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive. l've never been to South Africa, but I believe my story-so personal and painful to all Puerto Ricans-matters and should be considered in your discussions. 1 hope sharing this with you will help guide your decision.
Leila Khaled is known around the world as a high-ranking member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Between 1969 and 1972, she played a direct role in planning violent attacks, including hijacking planes like TWA Flight 840 and EI Al Flight 219. During the EI Al hijacking, her hijacking partner, Patrick Argüello, was killed, but thankfully, the passengers survived.
While these facts are public knowledge, I want to share what Leila Khaled's actions did to me and my family personally.
As I mentioned, l'm a Christian, and on May 30th, 1972, I arrived in Israel on a pilgrimage with a group from Puerto Rico, including my girlfriend, Carmen Crespo. We had traveled so far to walk where Jesus once walked, to see the holy sites we had only read about in the Bible. lt was our first time visiting the Holy Land.
When we landed at Lod Airport, we joined other passengers in the arrivals hall. Around 200 people were there - travellers from other flights and people picking up loved ones. Some were at baggage claim. Back then, airports weren't like they are today; there wasn't much security, and no one was checking bags thoroughly.
Then, out of nowhere, gunfire erupted. Three men with machine guns were shooting at everyone in sight. They were also throwing grenades. We later found out they had smuggled the weapons in their luggage.
I was shot in the leg. lt was terrifying, but I was lucky-the bullet didn't go deep. Pastor Jose Vega-Franqui, who was in our group, only survived because the bullets hit the Bible he was carrying. But my girlfriend, Carmen, wasn't as fortunate. She was standing next to me when she was shot several times, including once in the head. She died instantly. She was only 20 years old.
All around me, people were lying on the ground, injured or dead. Blood was everywhere-on the floors, on the luggage. lt was a nightmare that l've carried with me every day since.
That day, 26 people were killed - 17 of them were from our Puerto Rican pilgrimage group, 8 were Israelis, and 1 was Canadian. More than 80 others were injured. The loss was devastating for our families and our entire community. The 30th of May is now a national Memorial Day in Puerto Rico to honor those we lost.
The attack was organized by Leila Khaled's group, the PFLP. They trained and sent the three attackers. Khaled herself took part in a propaganda film, Red Army/PFLP: Declaration of World War, which was used to help recruit the men who carried out the massacre. The PFLP claimed that the attack was in honour of Patrick Argüell. They still celebrate this horrific event to this day. When one of the terrorists involved in supporting the attack were released from prison, Khaled personally phoned them to congratulate them. When asked why they killed innocent Puerto Rican pilgrims, the PFLP said we weren't innocent and that visiting Israel for tourism was "siding with the enemy."
This is a lie. We weren't soldiers. We weren't there to take sides in any conflict. We were on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land for religious reasons, to walk in peace, not to harm anyone.
We didn't deserve to be murdered. We only wish for peace to come to all the people of that blessed land.
South Africa is known around the world as a country that stands for freedom, democracy, and human rights. lt would be a tragedy if such a legacy were tarnished by having the name of Leila Khaled darken its streets. Like South Africa, Puerto Rico has suffered from war, colonization, and struggles for justice. But naming a road after someone with the blood of innocent people on their hands doesn't help build peace, unity or justice for any country.
For us, the survivors of the Lod massacre, and for all Puerto Ricans, the idea of honoring Khaled in this way is painful beyond words. No country in the world has ever built a monument to her. lt's hard to believe this is even being considered in Johannesburg. lf this renaming happens, 1 fear it will create a lasting wound between our two nations. There are so many South Africans who have fought bravely for real justice and freedom. 1 beg you not to cheapen their struggle by honoring Leila Khaled.
l'm submitting this letter as my official comment for your deliberations. 1 also want to acknowledge those who helped me, as a Spanish speaker, translate this letter into English. 1 have sent a copy to the Jewish community in Puerto Rico to make them aware of my stance.
May God bless you, and may peace be upon you from Puerto Rico.
Signed
Tony Larroy
