As children of the diaspora, our hearts are forever stretched across two worlds. The love for our islands, the longing for our homelands -- the urgency to protect them is real. Filipinos and Puerto Ricans are cousins affected by the same US colonization-imperialism-capitalism monster. The effects of poverty & violence in our communities, esp upon womxn, children, trans* and LGBTQ people are hideous. But we are also in a special position to hold the US accountable and do something about it.
To cap off Phil Sol Week, GAB NJ attended the Philippines & Puerto Rico Solidarity Resistance, a community forum that featured a report back from an exposure trip in PR. Members from NY Boricua Resistance, GABRIELA NY, and Sige joined the QT SaS Brigade as they traveled to PR in January, learning about current conditions on the ground, activist communities and movements, the history of US colonization, and US policies that still oppress boricuas today.
Some critical US policies and issues to be aware of are:
7 US members control the PR budget and “debt”; they are not held accountable to the PR government
It lowered the minimum wage from ~ $7 to ~ $4
Allows PR to pay debt by issuing bonds...which...makes no sense, right?
53% goes to hedge funders; 46% goes to the local government
In 2006, raised sales tax to 11.5%
January 16, 2019 - Puerto Ricans held a rally against COFINA
AES - Virginia Coal Company
Has multiple international coal plant bases, one of which is in Guayama
Ash from coal plant has caused cancer, bronchitis, and asthma
Local government is aware, but pays for ways to bandage the symptoms instead of curing the problem; generally does not care
Civilians quoted saying “colonialism is in their homes,” affecting families & school children; they must clean up ash on their tables day and night
We can help by: identifying & targeting leadership to hold accountable & by raising awareness
AES was originally in the Dominican Republic; DR successfully pushed them out and they moved on to PR
Also, we learned that THIS is the real Puerto Rican flag with vibrant, island colors. Not US-assimilated colors. And we learned much, much more. Stay tuned to learn how you can use your voice to lobby Congress to support policies that liberate the Puerto Rican people!
And of course, definitely look into NY Boricua Resistance to learn more from them directly. Rallies for the Decolonization and Independence of Puerto Rico are every 3rd Monday from 5p-7p.
