Puerto Rico

Pink Tide Against US Domination Rising Again In Latin America

October 14, 2019 Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers, Popular Resistance Newsletter Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Puerto Rico, US Empire, Venezuela

Once again, the left is rising in Latin America as people revolt against authoritarian regimes, many of whom were put in place by US-supported coups. These regimes have taken International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans and are under the thumb of international finance, which is against the interests of people. After the embattled President of Ecuador claimed that President Nicolas Maduro was the cause of the massive protests against him, Maduro made clear what was occurring in Latin America, saying: “We have two models: the IMF model which privatizes everything and takes away the people’s rights to health, education and work; and the humanist-progressive model which is emerging in Latin America and has the Bolivarian Revolution at the forefront.”

Puerto Rican People’s Assemblies Shift From Protest To Proposal

August 25, 2019 Jacqueline Villarrubia-Mendoza and Roberto Vélez-Vélez, NACLA Organize! General Assembly, Puerto Rico

Puerto Ricans now explore the breadth of these challenges with the formation of people’s assemblies. Assemblies began in August in different parts of the island, from Ponce, Mayaguez, Lares, and Utuado to Caguas, Gurabo, San Juan, and Carolina, as word spread with the help of hashtags such as #asambleadepueblo on social media. Different sectors of civil society have convened these assemblies with the mission of reflecting on how to provide continuity to the mobilized citizenry and entering into deep conversations about governance. The goal of this assembly format is to allow everyone an opportunity to voice their grievances and ideas—especially those who might be new to political activism.

Puerto Rico’s Crisis Is Not Only Puerto Rican

August 19, 2019 Jesus Arboleya Cervera, Progreso Weekly Educate! Colonialism, Puerto Rico, US Imperialism

In the rush to replace disgraced and discredited Governor Ricardo Rossello a astruggle broke out questioning the appointment of Pedro Pierluisi as his replacement and on August 7 the Puerto Rico Supreme Court ruled Pierluisi was unconstitutionally appointed and he was replaced by the Secretary of Justice, Wanda Vazquez making her the Puerto Rico’s third governor in five days. But this is not the most important aspect of such events. With a governor or without him, the whole world knows the United States is who really rules in Puerto Rico, that power which is now shaking as a result of its own contradictions.

A Former Coal Lobbyist Is Puerto Rico’s New Governor…For Now

August 7, 2019 By Paola Rosa-Aquino, Grist.org Educate! Puerto Rico, Regime Change, US Imperialism

Puerto Rico has a new governor, former coal lobbyist Pedro Pierluisi — and he didn’t even make it through the weekend before facing the first legal challenge to his leadership. On Sunday, the U.S. territory’s Senate filed a lawsuit claiming his ascent to the office was unconstitutional and seeking an order for him to cease his function in the role immediately. Pierluisi was sworn in during a private ceremony seconds after embattled Governor Ricardo Rosselló’s resignation became effective this past Friday at 5 p.m. Roselló’s reluctant exit came after weeks of widespread protests...

Teachers’ Role In The Puerto Rico Uprising

August 4, 2019 Jeff Bryant, Independent Media Institute. Resist! Education, Neoliberalism, Puerto Rico, Teachers

As Americans lament the current sorry state of democracy in Washington, D.C., government by the will of the people was very much alive recently in Puerto Rico, where a prolonged general strike that virtually shut down the island forced Governor Ricardo Rosselló to announce his resignation. During the strike, huge crowds mobbed the governor’s mansion around the clock, closed highways in the capital of San Juan, and persuaded some presidential candidates in the Democratic Party to join in calling for the governor to resign. Protesters had multiple grievances, but a “final straw” seems to have been a series of text messages leaked to an independent news organization in which the governor and his closest associates insulted political opponents and allies, members of the news media, and the LGBTQ community.

The CEOs Destroying The Planet + Puerto Rico Protests Just Getting Started

August 1, 2019 Eleanor Goldfield, Occupy.com Resistance Report Profit, Protests, Puerto Rico

The destruction of our planet for profit is deeply personal – so why shouldn't we treat it that way when it comes to the people perpetuating that destruction? Next up, from the streets of Puerto Rico, a look at what happened, how, why, what's next and what we can learn from this powerful push for change.

Leading Puerto Rican Activists Celebrate Governor’s Resignation, Talk Next Steps

August 1, 2019 Matt Meyer, Wagingnonviolence.org Resist! Class Struggle, Corruption, Protests, Puerto Rico

By all accounts, the shutdown of Puerto Rico’s industries, schools, government and business-as-usual on Monday was an unexpected show of popular sentiment against ruling Gov. Ricardo Rosselló. It was a true national strike, spreading from the capital in San Juan to all other major cities like Mayaguez, Ponce and Aguadilla. While Rosselló was resistant to the initial calls and protests demanding his immediate resignation last week — following leaks that revealed misogynist and homophobic remarks he had made in private...

Notes From A Caribbean Colony In Turmoil

August 1, 2019 By Manuel Otero, Counterpunch.org Resist! Colonialism, Corruption, Puerto Rico

From what I gather from the US press coverage, the recent events here have been portrayed as something close to a popular insurrection that got rid of an arrogant, inept and corrupt colonial governor. A note is added to the effect, a kind of wishful thinking, that if only Trump could be dispatched via similar methods. Colonial realities are seldom so simple, though. For one, the power struggles are different, in that these play out as what closely resemble real conspiracy schemes. Players are identified in terms of power blocks, such as the US military, Wall Street banks, or the US Navy in the more recent Vieques episodes.

Wall Street Demands “Discipline” As Protests Continue In Puerto Rico

July 30, 2019 Eric Johnson, Wsws.org Educate! Protests, Puerto Rico, Wall Street

Hours after Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rosselló’s early Thursday morning announcement that he will resign on August 2nd, thousands demonstrated in downtown San Juan demanding the resignation of his successor, Justice Minister Wanda Vázquez Garced. Both Rosselló and Vázquez are members of the New Progressive Party (PNP) and the Democratic Party. #WandaRenuncia quickly became one of the most popular Twitter hashtags while homemade signs Thursday featured the slogans, “this has not finished” and “we are cleaning the whole house.”

End Colonialism, Support Self-Determination, Correct Historical Wrongs

July 29, 2019 Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers, Popular Resistance Newsletter Colonialism, Democracy, Independence, Puerto Rico, Sovereignty

The results of centuries of US empire, which began with Manifest Destiny that crossed the North American continent and grew into a global empire, are coming home to roost in Puerto Rico and Hawaii. Puerto Ricans had an important victory last week with the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rosselló after more than one million people protested to demand his removal. This was a powerful display of people power, but changing the head of state does not confront the real issues for Puerto Rico: ending colonialism and ensuring self-determination. There is confusion after Rosselló's resignation. The next in line has already resigned and Secretary of Justice Wanda Vázquez, who is in line after that, does not want the job.

Protests In Puerto Rico Are About Life And Death

July 28, 2019 Merisol LeBrón, NACLA. Resist! Corruption, Decolonize, Puerto Rico

Police donning anti-riot gear—many with their names and badge numbers covered—used teargas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, and batons to dislodge protesters from the streets surrounding the Puerto Rican governor’s mansion in Old San Juan on Wednesday evening. Earlier that day, tens of thousands assembled at the Capitol building before marching to the governor’s mansion to demand the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rosselló. This marked the fifth day of protests and a significant escalation in police violence against civilians. A series of leaked chat conversations involving the governor and other members of his inner-circle provided an unlikely spark that ignited mounting frustrations with the abuses of local elites and the colonial government.

Rosselló Is Gone, Now “La Junta” Must Go! — Interview With Eduardo Rosario

July 27, 2019 Staff, Socialistorganizer.com Resist! Class Struggle, Corruption, Puerto Rico

You cannot divorce the Rosselló administration from the reality of the colonial relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States, a relationship best exemplified by the austerity measures imposed by PROMESA and La Junta in the name of repaying Puerto Rico’s official $72 billion debt owed to the U.S. financial institutions. In fact the debt is actually greater than $72 billion; when you include the unfunded liabilities of everyone’s pension raises it is more like $140 billion.

Rosselló’s Gone, But Puerto Rico’s Fight Against Police Repression Continues

July 27, 2019 Marisol LeBrón and Mari Mari Narváez, Truthout.org Resist! Class Struggle, Protests, Puerto Rico, Repression, State Violence

On Monday night, protesters were gathered outside of the governor’s mansion in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, as they had been for more than a week, in order to demand the resignation of Gov. Ricardo Rosselló. Although the protesters had been demonstrating in a peaceful manner all evening, around 10 pm, the police suddenly announced that a few protesters had become “aggressive” and then used their own claims as a pretext for a brutal crackdown. The police told members of the crowd that they had 10 minutes to evacuate before the police would start firing tear gas and forcibly removing protesters.

The Puerto Rican People And Their Combative Spirit

July 25, 2019 Carlos Aznarez, Resumen-english.org Resist! Class Struggle, Corruption, Puerto Rico

Current events in Puerto Rico are clear evidence that when people are challenged beyond the limits of their patience they just explode, leading to the possibility of unpredictable consequences. Yesterday Demonstrations totaled about a million people crowding not only the streets of the capital of San Juan but every large and small town in the Caribbean country. Governor Ricardo Rosello’s role in the stealing of funds from schools and healthcare and his outrageous chats demeaning and mocking the suffering of the Puerto Rico population was this moment’s spark...

Colonialism Is What’s Wrong With Puerto Rico

July 24, 2019 Nellie Bailey and Glen Ford, Blackagendareport.com Resist! Class Struggle, Colonialism, Protests, Puerto Rico

Progressive Puerto Ricans hope the mass protests that have rocked the colonized island will result in more than just the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rosello, said Daniel Vila, a veteran New York City activist. Some progressives ultimately want to force creation of a “government of national salvation,” encompassing all of Puerto Rico’s political tendencies. Others seek a constitutional convention to end the colonial relationship with the US.

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