Huge general strike in call for gov to quit
Gov. Ricardo Rossello’s attempt to calm the unrest in Puerto Rico by announcing that he would not seek reelection appears to have backfired.
Thousands of Puerto Ricans kicked off the workweek Monday by flooding the streets of San Juan in a massive general strike and protests calling for the scandal-plagued leader to step down.
It was a remarkable display of unity as people of all ages gathered in 90-degree heat to show Rossello they would not back down until he leaves office. They were marching, waving flags, holding signs, chanting, singing and even dancing in what was largely a peaceful demonstration.
Rossello has faced growing opposition since Hurricane Maria devastated the U.S. territory nearly two years ago. But a number of profanity-laced online exchanges that were leaked this month angered Puerto Ricans and has led multiple officials to resign.
The leaked messages showed Rossello mocking his own constituents, including hurricane victims, and using racial, homophobic and sexist language with some of his advisers. He even called former New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito (D-Manhattan) the Spanish word for whore and told a federal control board overseeing the island’s finances to go “f—k yourself.”
The first-term governor, who was elected in 2016, has since apologized and, on Sunday, pledged not to run for reelection in 2020. He also resigned from his role as president of the New Progressive Party, but has refused to leave office.
“Apologizing is not enough,” the 40-year-old Rossello said Sunday in a Facebook video. “A huge portion of the population is unhappy, and I recognize it.”
Videos circulating on social media Monday showed thousands of people in what appears to be the biggest day of protests since demonstrations began last week, with marchers shouting “Ricky Renuncia,” meaning “Ricky Resign,” which has also become a trending hashtag on social media.