Dear Governor of Puerto Rico: It is time for you to go!
Current Events
For the past several days, the people of Puerto Rico have paraded through the streets en masse — and not because it’s Carnaval de Ponce time. No, the people are protesting because they want Ricardo Rosselló, the Governor of Puerto Rico, to step down YESTERDAY. The only problem is, he refuses to do so.
Demonstrators were already unhappy with Rosselló because of alleged government corruption, high poverty rates, enormous island debt, as well as how he handled the painful recovery from 2017’s devastating Hurricane Maria. However, the Governor of Puerto Rico has since handed his people a new reason to hate him.
Rosselló recently became Public Enemy #1 after the Center for Investigative Journalism published 900 pages of leaked chats from his private Telegram Messenger group, where he and 11 top aides and Cabinet members exchanged profanity-laced, homophobic and misogynistic messages about fellow politicians, members of the media, celebrities, and the Puerto Rican people.
In one chat message, former chief financial officer Christian Sobrino joked with Rosselló about the island residents who died during Hurricane Maria. In another, former chief fiscal officer Sobrino Vega told Roselló of his frustrations with San Juan Mayor Yulín Cruz.
“I am salivating to shoot her,” he wrote.
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However, the message that stood out most involved a discussion Rosselló had regarding Puerto Rican pop star Ricky Martin. During the chat, Rosselló made vulgar references about Martin’s sexuality.
“Nothing says patriarchal oppression like Ricky Martin,” he wrote. “Ricky Martin is such a male chauvinist that he f*cks men because women don’t measure up. Pure patriarchy.”
Last Saturday, scores of demonstrators marched outside of the governor’s residence and read his chat messages aloud. The protests continued over the weekend and into Monday when hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans blocked a major highway in defiance of the governor.
Native sons Lin-Manuel Miranda and Ricky Martin even flew home to the island and joined in the physical protests.
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This is Ricky Martin with the protesters in Puerto Rico right now.#RickyRenunciaAhora
— Joshua Potash (@JoshuaPotash) July 22, 2019
Martin also tweeted a video message to Rosselló that it is time for him to go.
Cabinet members Sobrino and Vega have already resigned due to their involvement in the despicable chats. However, Rosselló is refusing to step aside. Instead, his best offer was to quit as president of the New Progressive Party and to vow that he will not run for reelection next year — a compromise that means he would continue to remain Governor of Puerto Rico for another 2 years.
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“A huge portion of the population is unhappy and I recognize it,” Rosselló said on Facebook Live. “I’ve heard you, I love the island and people. … Today I have the responsibility to direct my strengths to try to find alternatives so that with God we may be able to move forward.”
Hoping that his few sentences would magically make the people of Puerto Rico stop the protests, stop calling for his resignation and simply move on, Rosselló attempted to look toward the future.
“I’m going to be looking forward to turning over power to the person elected democratically,” he said, totally oblivious to the calls for him to leave now.
Despite Rosselló’s “And I am telling you, I’m not going” impression of Jennifer Hudson from DREAMGIRLS, the people of Puerto Rico are not accepting his suggested compromise and are vowing to continue the protests until Rosselló is gone.
“We are going to stay here no matter what,” resident Layzne Alvez said. “We are going to force our local leaders, representatives, senators, whoever we need to, to get him out. We are going to stay here.”
Now, the question is not a matter of IF he resigns, but WHEN he resigns.
Stay tuned…
Thanks DJ. I’d hoped that you would write about this story because it certainly deserves attention. Okay first let me say – regular readers know I’m a GBF (gay Black female) and I DO NOT in any way shape or form, “hate” men. In fact, 2 of the most influential people to bless my life, from childhood to adulthood, were Men. Real. Men. Black men whom I loved dearly. They’re both deceased now but much of what I am today is because of those two magnificent Men. I also have 2 very close friends, males whom I’ve known years – One gay, One straight. I love them like they’re part of my family. They feel the same about me. Then there’s my brother (gone too soon). Lord what he meant to me! Anyway…… I wanted to get all that said before posting my response to the actions of the Governor… Read more »