On June 21, 1970, Quebec authorities thwarted a kidnapping plot by the FLQ targeting the U.S. consul, arresting six members and seizing weapons and literature, including Carlos Marighella’s influential “Urban Guerrilla Manual.” Marighella, a key figure in Brazilian resistance against dictatorship, inspired FLQ actions amidst violent political upheaval, leading to the October Crisis. His strategies directly influenced Quebec’s revolutionary tactics, as highlighted by former members’ adherence to his principles during politically motivated kidnappings.
Unveiling the FLQ Kidnapping Plot
On June 21, 1970, law enforcement in Quebec uncovered a significant plot aimed at kidnapping the U.S. consul, leading to the arrest of six members from the Front de libération du Québec (FLQ). During this operation, authorities seized not only weapons and explosives but also a substantial collection of literature, including a pivotal book authored by Brazilian guerrilla Carlos Marighella.
Carlos Marighella: A Revolutionary Figure
In 1964, Brazil experienced a coup d’état that toppled the democratically elected president, João Goulart, thrusting the country into the grips of a harsh dictatorship characterized by repression, arbitrary arrests, and the assassination of activists. In response to this oppressive environment, Carlos Marighella distanced himself from the Brazilian Communist Party in 1967, criticizing its bureaucratic stagnation. He subsequently formed the National Liberation Action, which actively promoted armed resistance against the regime.
Marighella’s seminal work, the “Urban Guerrilla Manual,” published in 1969, serves as a theoretical guide for aspiring activists. It covers a wide array of topics, from guerrilla warfare tactics to logistical strategies and resource management. Tragically, Marighella was assassinated on November 4, 1969, in a calculated attack by the regime’s forces, but his ideas continued to resonate.
Impact on Quebec’s Political Climate
In the early 1970s, amidst the chaos and frequent bombings orchestrated by the FLQ in Quebec, Marighella’s book was secretly published under the title “Urban Guerrilla.” The preface, penned by Jacques Larue-Langlois, emphasized the importance of Marighella’s experiences, noting the effectiveness of Brazilian guerrillas in executing the first series of kidnappings of foreign diplomats, which ultimately led to the release of several political prisoners.
According to Louis Fournier, a former journalist and author of “FLQ: History of a Clandestine Movement,” Marighella’s work significantly influenced the FLQ’s actions. Shortly after the book’s release, Quebec witnessed its first and only attempts at politically motivated kidnappings in North America, including the abduction of the Israeli consul and the American consul, culminating in the notorious October Crisis of 1970.
On October 5, 1970, FLQ militants from the Liberation cell kidnapped British diplomat James Richard Cross, demanding the release of 23 political prisoners and the distribution of the FLQ Manifesto. This dramatic turn of events sparked a crisis that would shape Quebec’s political landscape for years to come.
In his book “The Beaches of Exile,” Jacques Lanctôt, a former member of the Liberation cell, noted that he diligently adhered to Marighella’s recommendations, such as fasting before an armed operation to ensure a fighter’s resilience in the face of injury. This reflection highlights the profound impact Marighella had on the strategies employed by Quebec’s revolutionary movements during this tumultuous period.