Villa sin Miedo
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Villa sin Miedo (or Village Without Fear) is a barrio located in Canovanas, Puerto Rico.
The area is possessed by the Puerto Rican government and designated as a relocation area for families of lower economic income. Like in many empoverished areas, drugs are fairly common in this place.
In 1983, the area was the scene of an infamous incident. During a police intervention, one policeman was shot to his death, with a bullet to his lung. For a long while after that, the name of Villa sin Miedo was a household name all over Puerto Rico. According to area neighbors, the police used interventions like this, to burn houses and destroy property that belonged to residents.
There have been several attempts to improve the quality of life of Villa sin Miedos residents. Many Puerto Rican, American and other international organizations have tried to help, with projects and cultural activities. One Brazilian professor who visited in 1993 noted that, during his trips to 80 or more countries, he had never seen people with so much hope as the people of Villa sin Miedo.