Read on Twitter
I can respect that.
Hopefully you can give a voice to those of us who have a different opinion regarding limiting the discussion “only to Puerto Ricans” and “self-determination”.
A thread
https://twitter.com/davidbegnaud/status/1276961489761390593
Hopefully you can give a voice to those of us who have a different opinion regarding limiting the discussion “only to Puerto Ricans” and “self-determination”.
A thread
https://twitter.com/davidbegnaud/status/1276961489761390593
More than TEN years ago, the US House of Representatives PASSED H.R. 2499, the Puerto Rico Democracy Act, which called for a plebiscite vote based on a two-prong approach: (1) on whether to continue with the current territorial status, and; (2) on constitutionally valid options.
HR 2499 eventually died in the Senate, which was controlled by the D’s at the time.
This is important.
As a @DNC member, I will never stop calling out @TheDemocrats for continuing to neglect this issue. Our party recently adopted a statehood stance, but more action is needed.
This is important.
As a @DNC member, I will never stop calling out @TheDemocrats for continuing to neglect this issue. Our party recently adopted a statehood stance, but more action is needed.
One of the main obstacles to achieving a resolution to Puerto Rico’s political status has been Congress’s unwillingness to act on the matter. The oldest trick on the book has been to “punt” the issue back to Puerto Ricans based on contradictory arguments on “self-determination”.
I say contradictory because, ultimately, 
is subject to the plenary powers of Congress under Article IV, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution (which, btw, treats us as “property” to this day). This was reaffirmed years later by SCOTUS in Pueblo v. Sanchez Valle.
is subject to the plenary powers of Congress under Article IV, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution (which, btw, treats us as “property” to this day). This was reaffirmed years later by SCOTUS in Pueblo v. Sanchez Valle.
Now back to HR 2499...
In March 2011, just months after the 2010 midterm election, the Obama Administration published a report by the President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico’s status.
In the report, the TF asserted its preference for the two-prong question laid out in HR 2499.
In March 2011, just months after the 2010 midterm election, the Obama Administration published a report by the President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico’s status.
In the report, the TF asserted its preference for the two-prong question laid out in HR 2499.
After it became clear that HR 2499 would not be enacted into law, moved forward with a plebiscite to be held on general election day of November 2012.
The plebiscite followed the format of HR 2499 and the White House Task Force recommendations.
moved forward with a plebiscite to be held on general election day of November 2012.The plebiscite followed the format of HR 2499 and the White House Task Force recommendations.
EIGHT years have passed since Puerto Ricans REJECTED the current territorial status. It wasn’t even close, the status quo was defeated by over 140,000 votes (78% turnout).
The PDP campaigned for the “yes” option on the 1st question and called to leave the second question blank.
The PDP campaigned for the “yes” option on the 1st question and called to leave the second question blank.
After the PDP administration took power in early 2013, they rehired known Republican lobbyist Charlie Black to lobby against any change in status.
Here’s an article from 2007 which provides context on the history of this strange political bedfellowship: https://www.politico.com/story/2007/04/pr-statehood-debate-gathers-force-003680
Here’s an article from 2007 which provides context on the history of this strange political bedfellowship: https://www.politico.com/story/2007/04/pr-statehood-debate-gathers-force-003680
A heavily-financed campaign engulfed to discredit the results of the 2012 plebiscite.
PDP’ers alleged that since many left the second question blank, the 61% support for statehood was “not valid”.
And so they sent their hired guns to shoot down any possibility for change.
PDP’ers alleged that since many left the second question blank, the 61% support for statehood was “not valid”.
And so they sent their hired guns to shoot down any possibility for change.
However, despite of the millions of dollars in public funds spent by the PDP in weaponizing Republican lobbyists, the validity of the results of the first ballot remain unquestioned:
Puerto Ricans REJECTED their current territorial relationship with the United States.
Puerto Ricans REJECTED their current territorial relationship with the United States.
Then we had to wait another 4 years.
History repeated itself. Once again PDP leadership hired Republican lobbyists to block any chance of holding another vote (see a pattern here?)
moved forward with a vote and statehood won with 97% support, albeit with a 23% voter turnout
History repeated itself. Once again PDP leadership hired Republican lobbyists to block any chance of holding another vote (see a pattern here?)
moved forward with a vote and statehood won with 97% support, albeit with a 23% voter turnout
Then Hurricanes Irma and Maria struck , and thanks to the work of journalists like you, America finally got a glimpse of what it means to live in an unincorporated territory with a second-class citizenship.
Your coverage provided a magnifying lens to our subjugated condition.
, and thanks to the work of journalists like you, America finally got a glimpse of what it means to live in an unincorporated territory with a second-class citizenship.Your coverage provided a magnifying lens to our subjugated condition.
In the years that followed, observers, pundits, civil rights organizations like the @NAACP, and yes, even Presidential candidates like @AndrewYang, began to SPEAK UP about Puerto Rico’s unsustainable reality.
This was not well received in statehood-opponent circles.
However, Trump’s ongoing actions against made it very hard for these groups to argue that the current model works, and that the problem lies on the island’s politicians and not on ’s territorial status with the U.S.
However, Trump’s ongoing actions against
made it very hard for these groups to argue that the current model works, and that the problem lies on the island’s politicians and not on ’s territorial status with the U.S.
So, when friends like @BetoORourke started SPEAKING OUT for the need for to be a state and achieve full participation and equal rights as American citizens, statehood opponents began imposing a “gag-order” on Presidential candidates and anyone who would dare take a stance. https://twitter.com/leylasantiago/status/1142063356507054080
to be a state and achieve full participation and equal rights as American citizens, statehood opponents began imposing a “gag-order” on Presidential candidates and anyone who would dare take a stance. https://twitter.com/leylasantiago/status/1142063356507054080
Groups like @Pwr4PuertoRico, PROHIBITED candidates from endorsing a status position because it “usurps the right of PRicans to determine their own destiny”.
And so they pushed politicians to once again ignore the issue and hide behind a “self-determination” non-commital stance.
And so they pushed politicians to once again ignore the issue and hide behind a “self-determination” non-commital stance.
To this day, I still struggle to understand how can someone encourage politicians/influential leaders not to speak their mind.
Isn’t that exactly what we voters demand of our political class? To be honest and candid about the issues that they believe in?!
Isn’t that exactly what we voters demand of our political class? To be honest and candid about the issues that they believe in?!
I’ll end with this:
Colonialism is real. Our second-class citizenship has become our daily reminder.
Every American, and especially those that hold positions of power, has a right and a DUTY to speak up and opine on civil rights violations happening in this country.
Colonialism is real. Our second-class citizenship has become our daily reminder.
Every American, and especially those that hold positions of power, has a right and a DUTY to speak up and opine on civil rights violations happening in this country.
The right to vote is a fundamental right protected by the U.S. Constitution.
In the case of, the SCOTUS (same Court that allowed racial segregation through the doctrine of “separate but equal” in 1896) decided the limited extent of our constitutional guarantees.
In the case of
, the SCOTUS (same Court that allowed racial segregation through the doctrine of “separate but equal” in 1896) decided the limited extent of our constitutional guarantees.
Every decision after the Insular Cases, including the federal government’s response to recent natural disasters, has been marred by our current status.
Every citizen of this world should have a right to speak up against oppression, discrimination, and tyranny. FULL STOP.
Every citizen of this world should have a right to speak up against oppression, discrimination, and tyranny. FULL STOP.
