Advocacy Groups Gather in DC In Support of Statehood for Puerto Rico

(Clockwise from top left: Rep. Pedro Pierluisi, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Zoraida Fonalledas,
Grover Norquist, rally participant, Niger Innis, Sharon Day, and Rep. Raul Labrador)

Advocacy groups promoting statehood for Puerto Rico held a rally today outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC to demand that Congress take action on results from the island's November 2012 status plebiscite.

The "Puerto Rican Journey for Equality” rally included hundreds of members of pro-statehood groups, including the Puerto Rico Statehood Council, Statehood Mission, Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles, Puerto Rico Statehood Students Association, Puerto Rico Statehood Democrats, and others.

In the November 2012 referendum, the people of Puerto Rico voted by a solid majority to move beyond the island’s current territorial status and towards statehood.  Voters were asked two questions: (1) whether they agreed to continue with Puerto Rico's territorial status and (2) to indicate the political status they preferred from three possibilities: statehood, independence, or a sovereign nation in free association with the United States.  Fifty-four percent of voters chose "No" on the first question, expressing themselves against maintaining the current political status.  Of those who answered the second question, more than sixty-one percent chose statehood.

Participants at today’s event asked Congress to approve a bill sponsored by Rep. Pedro Pierluisi (D-PR) that would establish a formal process to deal with the island’s current political status, specifically holding a binding referendum where Puerto Rican voters can vote either for or against statehood.

Puerto Rico currently remains and has been a territory of the United States for the past 115 years – far longer than any other U.S. territory.  Its 3.6 million residents are natural-born citizens of the United States and have attained one of the highest levels of military service in the country.  Yet, Puerto Ricans do not have equal rights and responsibilities under U.S. law or the U.S. Constitution compared to U.S. citizens residing in the 50 states.  Puerto Ricans cannot vote for President and lack full congressional representation except for one non-voting Resident Commissioner in the House of Representatives. 

Rep. Pierluisi, who spoke at today’s event, also argued for his position in a Washington Times editorial.  He stated that the unequal treatment the island receives under its current territorial status is the principal reason why “Puerto Rico has faced severe economic problems for at least four decades, carries more than $70 billion in debt, and has bonds trading at near-junk levels.”

Other speakers at the event included Representatives Raul Labrador (R-ID) and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Republican National Committee Co-Chair Sharon Day, RNC National Committeewoman for Puerto Rico Zoraida Fonalledas, Congress of Racial Equality spokesperson Niger Innis, and Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist.

Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) restated his support for Puerto Rico becoming a state.  He blamed Republicans for not supporting and advancing initiatives to decide the political future of the island.  "For me, the answer is very simple. I am in favor of statehood, always have been," Reid said.

As a truly representative democracy, it is time for the United States government and the Congress to review the current status of Puerto Rico and begin the process of granting full equality to its citizens in Puerto Rico.