Constitutional Crisis In Puerto Rico

I have been horrified watching TV and seeing reports in print and video on the internet. The pro-statehood party is controlled by people who are akin to the extreme hard-line faction of the GOP. They have instituted disastrous measures on the Island but their recent acts have led to what the head of the Islands Colegio de Abogados called a "constitutional crisis." Why did he say this? For starters, he was alluding to the increasing loss of civil rights, including forbidding citizens and the press access to Congress.

On the 30th, a peaceful group of University students, members of Todo Puerto Rico (unaffiliated citizens, church officials, union members, students), and others engaged in non-violent civil disobedience attempting to enter the Congress, they were violently attacked by riot police. Many women were wounded, as well as others among them journalists. Inside, the majority PNP Congress voted to institute an $800 extra fee for University students, in flagrant violation of the agreements that ended the 60 day strike at all 11 campuses, among other damaging initiatives such as eradicating environmental protections, privatizations, etc. Sadly but not surprising is the complete lack of US Mainland coverage. (instead if you google PR you find thousands of articles on some baseball game that took place on the same day, I guess you could call us the "invisible Colony")

See links to more information, and an announcement of a protest in New York City, below.

Local Puerto Rican Leaders to Condemn Brutal Repression, Acts of Violence By the
Puerto Rican Government Against its Own People

On Friday, July 2, 2010 at 4 pm in front of the Puerto Rican Federal Affairs
Office, (135 West 50th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues) members of the
National Congress for Puerto Rican Rights, Red de Apoyo a los Trabajadores
yTrabajadoras en Puerto Rico, New York City Council Member Melissa Mark
Viverito, and representatives of other local Puerto Rican and Latino
organizations, will gather to condemn the latest brutal attacks on innocent
civilians by the government of Puerto Rico.

The violence broke out at the Puerto Rican Capitol building when some local
university students, workers and other members of the public attempted to enter
the legislature Wednesday afternoon. Authorities had closed access to the
general public after groups announced plans for a protest against budget cuts
and other policies of Gov. Luis Fortuño. Police used pepper spray and brutally
clubbed demonstrators with batons and shields.

Location: Puerto Rican Federal Affairs Office
135 West 50th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues

TIME & DATE: Friday, July 2, 2010 at 4 pm

CONTACT : VICENTE PANAMA ALBA @ 917-626-5847

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO HERE:

http://www.elnuevodia.com/lluevenlosgolpes-733591.html (Main PR paper, photos, news, blogging live, and lots of video)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0112083920100701?rpc=60

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_hispanicaffairs/2010/06/puerto-rico-senate-president-bans-press-from-public-sessions.html

http://www.rcfp.org/newsitems/index.php?i=11462

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/7/1/headlines/puerto_rican_police_quash_protest_at_state_capitol

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/picture/2010/jul/02/puerto-rico

National Protest 18 July, and the reasons for calling for it:

http://www.elnuevodia.com/wap/convocanprotestanacional-733689-5.html

Strike at University of Puerto Rico:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/18/us/18students.html

Press censorship:

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_hispanicaffairs/2010/06/puerto-rico-senate-president-bans-press-from-public-sessions.html

http://www.rcfp.org/newsitems/index.php?i=11462

For video go here:

http://www.wapa.tv/noticias/primeraplana/super-marcha-de-protesta-contra-fortuno/20100701223328

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hOw7f9P1C4 (lots of other videos on YouTube)

http://wapa.tv/vervideo.php?nid=20100630172718&sec=menu1 (Main PR TV station, lots of videos; and see below for meeting of citizens to call for national protest 18 july)

http://www.elnuevodia.com/wap/convocanprotestanacional-733689-5.html