the-revolution-continues:

120 years ago today (July 25th, 1898) Puerto Rico was invaded and made a colony of the United States.

Puerto Ricans are US citizens. But they STILL don’t have the right to
vote federally, nor do they have voting representation in Congress
(unless they move). Nor are they a sovereign people.

It is estimated that almost 5,000 Puerto Ricans have died in the wake of Hurricane María.

The Federal government maintains that the official death count from the storm was 64.

The island has yet to undergo a major recovery effort. Homes are still covered in tarps.

The subjugation and treatment of Puerto Ricans as 2nd-class citizens of the United States is nothing new.

It’s codified into law. It’s codified in status.

And recognition of this gross injustice is bipartisan: Senator John McCain has introduced legislation to lift the Jones Act.

I support U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren & U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders‘ Marshall Plan for Puerto Rico.

We must also talk about the cancellation of PR’s debt, much of which is suspected to be illegal; and the imposition of PROMESA.

Puerto Ricans also deserve the right to self-determination.

– Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez