Decolonise Puerto Rico
Though Puerto Ricans cannot vote in the US mid-terms, the colony’s independence activists are fighting to win freedom from Washington.
TL;DR
- Puerto Ricans cannot vote in US mid-term elections but are actively campaigning for independence from US colonial rule.
- The island has been under US rule since 1898, with citizens granted US citizenship in 1917 but denied the right to vote in US elections.
- The unelected fiscal board, PROMESA, appointed by the Obama administration, controls Puerto Rico's finances and has imposed cuts to basic services.
- Puerto Rico's economy has been shaped for colonial purposes, serving as a US military base and a low-tax producer of goods, leading to economic exploitation.
- Support for independence is increasing, with activists aiming to counter the debate between 'statehood' and maintaining the status quo.
- Activists argue that only pressure within the US can compel Washington politicians to address Puerto Rico's colonial status.