April 2021
Volume 17 No. 5
Un Periódico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper
Un Periódico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper
Un Periódico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper
Un Periódico Diferente / A Different Kind of Newspaper
New Initiative to End Puerto Rico’s Colonial Status
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Editorial / Editorial
Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021 One of the things that caught our attention about these conversations was the lack of basic knowledge about the measure. In some cases, the discussions were not based on what was written on the official document.
It is no secret that the conversation about the colonial status of Puerto Rico among Puerto Ricans is and has been a perennial hot topic. Long before Congresswomen Nydia Velázquez introduced bill H.R. 8113, known as Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2020, on August 25, 2020, the polemics and controversy about the legislative measure had begun. The bill was later modified and re-introduced on March 18, 2021 by U.S. Representatives Nydia M. Velázquez, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and U.S. Senator Bob Menéndez. The bill is now known as the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021. Since its introduction, it has been remarkable to see an increase of time and space devoted to discussing, analyzing, and arguing for and against this bill on social media, news, media outlets, blogs, and on the increasingly popular podcasts.
Given the importance of allowing the people of Puerto Rico to determine their own fate as well as for non-Puerto Ricans to be well informed of what this legislative piece is all about, we have decided to reproduce Nydia M. Velázquez’s official press release of the bill, statements released by organizations, political and social movements in support of the measure, as well as an opinion piece written by a Puerto Rican historian who presents a very different point of view.
contents
2 Editorial / Editorial Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021 Tinta Caliente / Hot Ink 3 Portada / Front Page Reps. Velázquez, Ocasio-Cortez, Senator Menendez Introduce Puerto Rico SelfDetermination Act of 2021 4 Puerto Ricans in Massachusetts Support Self-Determination Act 5 100 + Groups, Leaders Rally For ‘Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021 7 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nydia Velazquez’s Self-Determination Act of 2020 for Puerto Rico is an Exercise in Dishonest Paternalistic Colonialism 8 Dems Introduce Bill to Let Puerto Ricans ‘Determine Their Own Political Future’ 9 Libros / Books The Young Lords: A Radical History 10 Cultura / Culture El rizo y la trenza: nueva exposición virtual en la Galería de Arte del RUM Finanzas / Finances Car-demic 11 Educación / Education STCC named 4th Best Community College in the U.S. 13 Política / Politics The Prospects of Independence for Puerto Rico? Don’t Get Your Hopes Up 15 Delmarina López Announces Run for Chicopee Ward 3 Councilor Darlene Reina Announces Election Bid for Chicopee City Council’s 3rd Ward
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OT TINTNAT E H INK CALIE
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FRAU RAMO
In Holyoke, … what happened with Dr. Alberto Vázquez-Matos?
Just nine months after being named Receiver/ Superintendent of the Holyoke Public Schools, Vázquez-Matos announced his resignation on March 19th. The reasons for this rather sudden and drastic decision as the head of the school system follow weeks of speculations regarding his absence from the public eye. Vázquez-Matos was the first Puerto Rican to ever lead the Holyoke Public School System. His disappearing act has created an unsettling situation that is being further exacerbated by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Educations (DESE) response to the ensuing confusion. A lack of transparency has characterized the information provided by DESE to the residents of Holyoke.
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Volume 17, No. 5 n April 2021
Editor Manuel Frau Ramos manuelfrau@gmail.com 413-320-3826 Assistant Editor Ingrid Estrany-Frau Art Director Tennessee Media Design Business Address El Sol Latino P.O Box 572 Amherst, MA 01004-0572
Editorial Policy
El Sol Latino acepta colaboraciones tanto en español como en inglés. Nos comprometemos a examinarlas, pero no necesariamente a publicarlas. Nos reservamos el derecho de editar los textos y hacer correcciones por razones de espacio y/o estilo. Las colaboraciones pueden ser enviadas a nuestra dirección postal o a través de correo electrónico a: info@elsollatino.net. El Sol Latino welcomes submissions in either English or Spanish. We consider and review all submissions but reserve the right to not publish them. We reserve the right to edit texts and make corrections for reasons of space and/or style. Submissions may be sent to our postal address or via electronic mail to: info@elsollatino.net. El Sol Latino is published monthly by Coquí Media Group. El Sol Latino es publicado mensualmente por Coquí Media Group, P.O Box 572, Amherst, MA 01004-0572.
Portada / Front Page
El Sol Latino April 2021
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Reps. Velázquez, Ocasio-Cortez, Senator Menendez Introduce Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021 WASHINGTON, D.C. | PRESS RELEASE | March 18, 2021 – U.S. Representatives Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), and U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), introduced the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021, bicameral and bipartisan legislation that would empower Puerto Ricans with an inclusive and democratic process to determine their own political future and relationship with the United States. Under this proposed legislation, a status convention would be created and delegates would be elected to discuss options with federal officials, and therefore create an official, legitimate and comprehensive bilateral conversation on status. “Over a century ago, the United States invaded Puerto Rico. And ever since the U.S. has pursued its own colonial rule,” said Rep. Velázquez. “While many may disagree about the future of Puerto Rico’s status, we must recognize that the decision should come from those who will be impacted most: the people of Puerto Rico. That is why we are introducing the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act. After over one hundred years of colonial rule, Puerto Ricans would finally have a democratic mechanism to determine their own future. I would like to thank the hundreds of advocacy groups for making this bill possible as well as my House co-lead Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the leader of the Senate version, Senator Bob Menendez.” “The principled position — especially for the head of that colonizing power — is to say that people should have a process of selfdetermination and to not put your thumb on the scale of one direction or another. Our bill outlines a just, democratic, and inclusive process for Puerto Ricans to decide their future,” said Rep. OcasioCortez. “The more than three million residents of Puerto Rico deserve a comprehensive and fair process to chart their own path forward,” said Sen. Menendez. “That’s why I am proud to be introducing this bicameral and bipartisan legislation alongside my House colleagues, Chairwoman Nydia Velázquez and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. This is the most inclusive approach to addressing the long-overdue question of Puerto Rico’s political status, but most importantly, it offers the people of Puerto Rico a legitimate and democratic process to determine their own future.” The idea of an assembly to determine Puerto Rico’s status has been around for more than a century, and has been used in several federal
legislative proposals. Rep. Velázquez first introduced the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act in the U.S. House of Representatives back in 2007, and it was most recently reintroduced last year in the House by both her and Rep. Ocasio-Cortez. You can find bill text at https://velazquez.house.gov/sites/velazquez. house.gov/files/VELAZQ_043_xml_3_18_21.pdf. Below is a summary of the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act. 1. Creation of Status Convention: The bill proposes creating a “status convention” made up of delegates elected by Puerto Rican voters who would come up with a long-term solution for the island’s territorial status — whether that be statehood, independence, a free association or any option other than the current territorial arrangement. 2. Delegate election: Once the number of delegates is determined, voters will decide who will serve on the delegation. The delegate election will be publicly financed. In order to keep dark money out of this election, a Puerto Rico Status Convention Public Matching Fund will be established, and it will be subject to the Federal Election Commission. 3. Delegate collaboration with a Bilateral Negotiating Commission: A Bilateral Negotiating Commission composed of several members of Congress and the administration will be created to provide advice and consultation to delegates regarding the different status options. 4. Referendum vote: A referendum vote, where the status options will be presented by the delegates to the people of Puerto Rico, will then be held following the collaboration between the delegates and the Bilateral Negotiating Commission. An allocation of $2.5 million dollars to the Puerto Rico State Commission on Elections will be appropriated to execute said referendum. Additionally, delegates shall carry out an education campaign through traditional paid media related to the referendum under this section. An appropriation of $5 million dollars is authorized to carry out said campaign. 5. Congressional Recognition: If the referendum under the Act is approved by the people of Puerto Rico, Congress shall approve a joint resolution to ratify self-determination option as approved in the referendum vote.
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Portada / Front Page
El Sol Latino April 2021
Puerto Ricans in Massachusetts Support Self-Determination Act SPRINGFIELD, MA | March 21, 2021- Puerto Rican leaders and community organizations across Massachusetts stand in solidarity with national grassroots organizations in support of the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021, introduced by U.S. Representatives Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY), and also filed by U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) with overwhelming support from the MA congressional delegation including U.S. Representatives Ayanna Pressley, Jim McGovern, and Richard Neal, and U.S. Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren.
and Sarai Rivera in Worcester. We expect that additional resolves will pass across Massachusetts in the near future.
Self-determination is the freedom a people have to choose their own destiny. It is a human right that empowers people under occupation or colonial rule to decide their future without imposition by the colonial power. The SelfDetermination act will create a fair, inclusive, and transparent process for Puerto Ricans in the archipelago and the diaspora to explore, understand, and consider all options for decolonization such as statehood, non-territorial commonwealth, independence or a dignified free association.
Massachusetts Puerto Ricans understand that self-determination must ensure that all status options are on the table and have an equal footing; it is federally binding; it provides extensive information and engagement on all of the options available and what their real implications would be (not hypotheticals); and it be led and decided by the people who are impacted, not by political parties or under the pressures of political agendas.
“There is no perfect path to resolve the colonial status of Puerto Rico but I believe that the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021 is a step in the right direction. I urge our Massachusetts congressional delegation to unequivocally support this bill.” - Otoniel Figueroa-Duran, Co-founder of Alianza por Puerto Rico - Massachusetts. The national grassroots coalition of community leaders, groups, and organizations in support of the Self-Determination Act of 2021 hosted a press conference on Monday, March 22, 2021 via Facebook Live. The momentum has been building towards this historic moment at the national level and state-wide with municipal level resolutions have passed in support of Puerto Rico’s self-determination fueled by city councilors Adam Gomez, Sr. and Orlando Ramos in Springfield, Libby Hernandez in Holyoke,
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“Puerto Rico’s colonial status is a stain on the democratic ideals the United States endeavors to live by and uphold. Throughout history Puerto Rico has maintained it’s right to self determination. I support Puerto Rico’s right to self determination and passing the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021 would ensure an inclusive, transparent, process for Puerto Rico to exercise it.” - Boston City Councilor Ricardo
“Massachusetts has the fifth-highest concentration of Puerto Ricans in the United States with over 300,000 residents. Many residents of Massachusetts identify as Puerto Rican. This is an issue that matters to us and those we care about. The Self-Determination Act of 2021 presents a unique opportunity for the diaspora to show solidarity with the people of Puerto Rico in decolonizing it and resolving its status once and for all.” Gladys Franco, Co-founder of the Boricua Solidarity Movement. Massachusetts community groups and organizations in support of Puerto Rico’s self-determination include Alianza for Puerto Rico, the Boricua Solidarity Movement, The Resistance Center for Peace and Justice, The Ethnic Study, Rise Up Western Mass Indivisible, and Valley Women’s March among others. For more information contact Otoniel Figueroa-Durán, oduran@seiu32bj. org or Gladys Franco, gladysnatalia@gmail.com
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Portada / Front Page
El Sol Latino April 2021
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100+ Groups, Leaders Rally For ‘Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021
PUERTO RICO | PRESS RELEASE | March 22, 2021— More than 100 groups and leaders from Puerto Rico and throughout the United States announced their support for the Puerto Rico Self-Determination of 2021, introduced last Thursday by Reps. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) and Alexandria Ocasio - Cortez (D-NY) and Senators Robert Menéndez (D-NJ) and Roger Wicker (R-MS), with a total of 83, and counting, original Members of Congress and Senators sponsoring the legislation. The announcement at a press conference and rally came on March 22nd, Emancipation Day, the annual holiday commemorating when slavery was legally abolished in in Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act provides an overdue democratic framework for the decolonization of Puerto Rico. The bill calls for a fair, transparent, and binding process that would include ALL of the non colonial status options that Puerto Ricans advocate for —on equal footing. Under U.S. colonialism, the right of Puerto Ricans to self-determination —an internationally-recognized human right— has been delayed and denied for more than a century. “Puerto Ricans are sick and tired of being played by politicians in DC and San Juan,” said Congresswoman Velázquez. “The collective political future of a people is not some trivial partisan matter and needs to be addressed in a serious and constructive way. The Puerto Rico Self Determination Act of 2021 would do just that. Our bill empowers Puerto Rico voters by recognizing their natural right to self determination and sets up a Congressional response to a democratically elected Status Convention. No political status process can be undertaken behind the backs of Puerto Ricans of all persuasions, who should have an equal opportunity to participate in the process to decide the island’s future relationship with the United States. I want to thank the 83 other Members of Congress for joining me in this bipartisan, bicameral effort. The grassroots support we have from over 100 community organizations from the Island and the US shows the power of organizing and demanding respect for our people.” “The principled position —especially for the head of that colonizing power— is to say that people should have a process of self-determination and to not put your thumb on the scale of one direction or another. Our bill outlines a just, democratic, and inclusive process for Puerto Ricans to decide their future,” said Rep. Ocasio-Cortez in a statement. Worker, community, faith-based groups and associations in Puerto Rico supporting the Velázquez-AOC bill include VAMOS Puerto Rico, la Asociación de Profesoras y Profesores del Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez de la Universidad de Puerto Rico (APRUM), and la Mesa de Diálogo Martin Luther King, Jr., among others.. “The sustainable development that we promote is based on the autonomy of communities, their active and critical participation in policy issues that affect them, and their participation in democratic and processes towards justice and social emancipation,” said José Santos Valderrama, General Coordinator of Bosque Modelo, an environmental group in Puerto Rico. The goal here is to work for the eradication of all forms of exploitation, oppression, violation and discrimination, for the sake of human dignity. This includes the defense of civil and political rights such as the right to selfdetermination. It is simply not possible to achieve a sustainable archipelago under colonialism.”
U.S. Representative Velázquez was joined by Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D-PA), former Congressman Luis Gutiérrez and elected Puerto Rico leaders across the political spectrum supporting the bill: pro statehood Puerto Rico House Representative José Bernardo Marquez and pro independence Senator Ana Irma Rivera Lássen, both from the Citizens Victory Movement party (MVC in Spanish); former Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) Senator and former gubernatorial candidate Juan Dalmau; and Puerto Rico House Speaker Rafael “Tatito” Hernández of the Popular Democratic Party. “After providing feedback, we are satisfied that this new version of the bill recognizes that a self-determination process must consist of various phases of consultation among the people of Puerto Rico and that it is Puerto Ricans who should be able to choose among all of the non colonial options,” said Puerto Rico Senator Ana Irma Rivera Lássen, President of the Citizens Victory Movement party (MVC in Spanish). “I am optimistic about the bill presented in the House by Reps. Nydia Velázquez and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, which looks to address the distressing colonial problem Puerto Rico faces,” said Puerto Rico Senator Juan Dalmau Ramírez. “It is a democratic and inclusive bill that contains crucial elements that are indispensable for the Puerto Rican Independence Party: the status alternatives must be outside of the territorial clause and Puerto Ricans should be able to choose, with deep awareness, among the status options that emerge out of negotiations with Congressional leadership, and that each of the options have their own transitional plans.” “In 2006, I was proud to stand with Nydia Velázquez, Ted Kennedy, Bob Menéndez and many others to introduce legislation to allow the people of Puerto Rico to decide for themselves what status they want, in an inclusive way that involved Congress,” said former Congressman Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL). “Fifteen years later, I am so proud to support an even stronger version of that bill that my sisters Nydia and Alexandria have put forth that would decolonize Puerto Rico in a binding, transparent and democratic fashion. It is high time for Congress to stop treating the people of Puerto Rico as a piece of property and recognize the human rights of our island nation to be free to choose its own destiny.” Stateside grassroots, advocacy and policy groups at the rally included Power 4 Puerto Rico, Boricuas Unidos en la Diáspora, the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, Center for Popular Democracy (CPD), and Diaspora en Resistencia, and the Open Society Policy Center. “During our #ShowUsYourPRPolicy campaign, Power 4 Puerto Rico and 60 partners built pressure for a fair, inclusive, transparent and binding process led by Puerto Ricans to decolonize the Island. We call on the sons and daughters of Puerto Rico and all those who value human rights to support the Velázquez-Ocasio-Cortez Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act,” said Erica González, Director of the Power 4 Puerto Rico Coalition. “We are building one of the largest and most diverse coalitions of grassroots organizations to support the Velázquez-AOC bill and a serious selfdetermination process that leads to the decolonization of Puerto Rico once and for all,” said Edil Sepúlveda Carlo, Co-founder, Boricuas Unidos en la Diáspora (BUDPR). “The Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021 can be the beginning of the decolonization of the Island,” said Jessie Fuentes of The Puerto Rican Agenda, Chicago. “The Puerto Rican diaspora stands ready to ensure that our families in the Island are able to determine their future, without any steering by U.S. political parties trying to use Puerto Rico as a political chip.” continued on next page
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Portada / Front Page
El Sol Latino April 2021
100+ Groups, Leaders Rally For ‘Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021 continued from page 5 “The framework outlined in Congresswomen Velázquez and Ocasio Cortez bill, the Puerto Rico Self- Determination Act of 2021, outlines a process that takes into account our complex history. A vote having to do with the future of a nation and its people should never be treated glibly nor glossed over. This momentous decision must be tackled in a thoughtful and thorough way,” said Melissa Mark-Viverito of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center (PRCC). The Puerto Rico Self Determination Act is the only bill that does that. On this abolition day we join forces with organizations and activists in Puerto Rico, across the diaspora and across struggles to support this historic bill.” “We celebrate the introduction of landmark legislation, the Self Determination Act, on the anniversary of when slavery was abolished in Puerto Rico. Both are symbols of the end of an era when the devastating effects of colonialism are recognized, the possibilities of a better relationship are examined and determined by those who are most impacted -- our families, and community leaders throughout the island who will engage in a process to decolonize,” said Jesus González, Senior National Organizer & Strategic Initiatives Advisor of the Center for Popular Democracy. “The Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act (HR 2070) recognizes the fact that Puerto Rico is a nation, and as such, has the inalienable right to decide its own future. The process outlined in the bill is one that has been discussed for years in Puerto Rico and that we finally have achieved with Congress putting into action what Puerto Ricans have for so long deliberated,” said María Torres-López, Founder and President of Diáspora en Resistencia (Diaspora in Resistance).
on to make sure every voice on the archipelago is heard, in line with our democratic values. ” “Philadelphia is the cradle of U.S. democracy, and we cannot regain our world stage if we do not decolonize Puerto Rico,” said Philadelphia Councilwoman María Quinoñes. “The Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act is a means to end this undemocratic history and for Puerto Ricans to lead their own destiny.” “As the sponsors of New York City Council Resolution 1543, which supports the Puerto Rico Self- Determination Act, we are proud to join Congresswomen Velázquez and Ocasio-Cortez in their fight for a true process of selfdetermination for Puerto Rico. At a time when the federal government has failed to address Puerto Rico’s fiscal and natural crises and instead instituted devastating austerity measures, it’s more important than ever that Puerto Rico’s future is determined and led by its people, in a thoughtful and inclusive manner,” said New York City Council Members Carlina Rivera and Diana Ayala. New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera, former San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz and Illinois State Senator Omar Aquino also attended today’s digital rally. Allies in support of the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act include interfaith, civil rights, labor, environmental, and immigrant organizations, such as MiJente, the National Urban League, Faith in Action, the Sunrise movement, Indivisible, Black Lives Matter of Greater NY, SEIU, and Color of Change.
“To end colonialism, Puerto Ricans should be the ones to define and determine, in a unified way, their options and later vote, whether it’s for statehood, a free association, independence or whichever other option our compatriots decide through a Status Assembly for delivering a final decision to Congress,” said Johanna López of Alianza Center in Orlando, Fl. “The Puerto Rico Self Determination-Act proposes a process—not a specific status solution— to the over 123 years of US colonial rule over Puerto Rico. We applaud Congresswomen Velázquez and Ocasio-Cortez for ensuring a process that can chart Puerto Rico’s political future by putting the power in the hands of local Puerto Rican people of all status ideologies that reject the current colonial rule we are living in today,” said Karina Claudio Betancourt, Director, Puerto Rico Project, Open Society Policy Center. “As a queer Puerto Rican woman who lives on the island, it is important to me that these processes are not controlled by parties that have historically curtailed human rights and public participation on matters of public policy on the island. This is about the future of a nation that has been occupied and colonized and we deserve nothing but a serious, binding process that can help us resolve this ongoing violation of our inalienable right to self-determination.” Several legislative bodies in cities and states that are home to large Puerto Rican populations have introduced and passed resolutions in support of self-determination —the Illinois Senate, Philadelphia City Council, New York City Council, as well as Holyoke and Springfield city councils in Massachusetts. “Every vote towards self-determination is one step closer to giving the people of Puerto Rico a real voice in determining their own destiny,” said Massachusetts State Senator Adam Gomez. “In Massachusetts, we’ll fight
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Portada / Front Page
El Sol Latino April 2021
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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nydia Velazquez’s Self-Determination Act of 2020 for Puerto Rico is an Exercise in Dishonest Paternalistic Colonialism by HARRY FRANQUI-RIVERA Originally published on incoherentthoughtsblog.com - March 20, 2021 On June 27, 1970, the infamous Henry Kissinger stated: “I don’t see why we need to stand by and watch a country go communist because of the irresponsibility of its own people.” This gross imperialistic and paternalistic statement was made as part of Kissinger’s campaign to stop socialist Salvador Allende from becoming president of Chile. Despite the illegal and criminal CIA campaign Allende was elected president of “South America’s longest functioning democracy” on on Sept. 4 of the same year. He didn’t last long in power. A U.S. campaign to destabilize the economy was matched with the funding of right-wing paramilitary groups to wreak havoc in Chile and bring about its social collapse. Then, in 1973, the Chilean military (under the guidance of the CIA and the US State Department) intervened with the excuse of restoring order and instituted a military dictatorship until 1990! This is just one of too many instances in which the United States government has intervened in the future of people it deems incapable of making good choices, and, in the case of Puerto Rico, govern themselves. After taking over Puerto Rico in 1898 , the United States government set up a tutelary colonial state because the prevalent racist beliefs held by its leaders got them to conclude that Puerto Ricans were too inferior culturally and racially wise to govern themselves. The Self-Determination Act of 2020 authored by the two most powerful Puerto Ricans in Congress, representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nydia Velazquez, is the worst example of this type of dishonest paternalistic colonialism in a long time. It is worse than PROMESA, and more like those 1898-1900′ decisions that made Puerto Rico an American colony.
Let’s start with a summary of the #PuertoRico Self-Determination Act of 2020. Summary:
comprehensive, and uninterrupted space of dialogue that can define the future of Puerto Rico.” 4. It recognizes the Legislature of Puerto Rico “inherent authority to call a status convention, constituted by a number of delegates to be determined in accordance to legislation approved” by the ELA, to propose to the people of Puerto Rico a self-determination option. 5. FEDERAL FUNDING will allocate $4 to each candidate for delegate for every $1 that the candidate receives as a campaign contribution that is, (A) less than $100; and B) donated by a resident of Puerto Rico. 6. The Delegates will:(a) debate and draft definitions on self-determination options for Puerto Rico, which shall be outside the Territorial Clause of the United States Constitution; (b) draft accompanying transition plans for each self-determination option; (c) choose a self-determination option (and its accompanying transition plan) to present to the people of Puerto Rico through a referendum vote held in Puerto Rico. 7. The delegates choose the option the people vote on. This is similar to Public Law 600- which created the ELA in 1952. And, where the problems with bill start. The CONGRESSIONAL BILATERAL NEGOTIATING COMMISSION instructs Puerto Rican delegates on their choices. 8. The Bill establishes a CONGRESSIONAL BILATERAL NEGOTIATING COMMISSION to provide advice and consultation to delegates of a status convention will include:(a) the chairs of the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; (b) the ranking members of the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; (c) one member selected by the majority leader of the House of Representatives; (d) one member selected by the minority leader of the House of Representatives;(e) one member selected by the majority leader of the Senate; (f) one member selected by the minority leader of the Senate; (g) the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico; (h) with the consent of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and majority leader of the Senate, a member from the Department of Justice.-these are not elected officials and will have undue say in the option chosen to be presented to the Puerto Rican electorate9. It calls for a referendum vote by residents of Puerto Rico MAY ONLY be on the self-determination option CHOSEN by the delegate of the status convention under the supervision of the CONGRESSIONAL BILATERAL NEGOTIATING COMMISSION.
1. It is based on the following; “On November 18, 1953, the United Nations recognized Puerto Rico as a self-governing political entity under the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 748.”
10. Congress retains the right to ignore the results of the referendum. “If the referendum is approved by the people of Puerto Rico, Congress MAY approve a joint resolution to ratify the self-determination option approved in the referendum vote held under this Act.”
2. The bill establishes that all peoples have the right to self-determination and ‘‘by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development’’.
11. If Congress fails to act, “…the Puerto Rico status convention created under this Act may meet again and send or resend a self-determination option to Congress.”
3. It claims that “The status convention provides a deliberative,
continued on next page
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Portada / Front Page
El Sol Latino April 2021
Dems Introduce Bill to Let Puerto Ricans ‘Determine Their Own Political Future’ Originally published on COMMONDREAMS.ORG | March 18, 2021
Congress—introduced the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act.
Amid renewed debates over Puerto Rican statehood given Democratic control of both Congress and the White House, a trio of lawmakers on Thursday reintroduced a bill that would allow residents of the U.S. island territory to chart their own political path.
Ocasio-Cortez, who is also of Puerto Rican descent, echoed her recent remarks about the statehood bill versus the legislation she is co-leading.
Reps. Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) joined with Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) to introduce the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2021, which aims to “empower Puerto Ricans with an inclusive and democratic process to determine their own political future and relationship with the United States” through a status convention with elected delegates. “Over a century ago, the United States invaded Puerto Rico. And ever since the U.S. has pursued its own colonial rule,” said Velázquez, who was born in the territory. “While many may disagree about the future of Puerto Rico’s status, we must recognize that the decision should come from those who will be impacted most: the people of Puerto Rico.” “That is why we are introducing the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act,” she continued. “After over 100 years of colonial rule, Puerto Ricans would finally have a democratic mechanism to determine their own future.” After over one hundred years of colonial rule, Puerto Ricans would have a mechanism to determine their own future. This bill introduced just now would provide a democratic option by giving the Puerto Rican people a chance to make their voices heard in two open elections. pic.twitter.com/kJI7WjISZo — Rep. Nydia Velazquez (@NydiaVelazquez) March 18, 2021 The reintroduction comes about two weeks after Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.), who is of Puerto Rican descent, and Jenniffer González Colón—a Republican who serves as the resident commissioner of Puerto Rico in
“The principled position—especially for the head of that colonizing power— is to say that people should have a process of self-determination and to not put your thumb on the scale of one direction or another,” she said Thursday. “Our bill outlines a just, democratic, and inclusive process for Puerto Ricans to decide their future.” Menendez similarly argued that “the more than three million residents of Puerto Rico deserve a comprehensive and fair process to chart their own path forward.” “This is the most inclusive approach to addressing the long-overdue question of Puerto Rico’s political status,” he said, “but most importantly, it offers the people of Puerto Rico a legitimate and democratic process to determine their own future.” Velázquez and Ocasio-Cortez first unveiled the legislation last summer. At the time, they co-wrote an opinion piece for NBC News, detailing how “Puerto Rico has been subjected to policies foisted on it by a Congress frequently uninterested in the welfare of those who live there.” As the congresswomen explained: This reality touches every aspect of Puerto Rican life: Puerto Rico receives disparate treatment for Medicaid reimbursement, nutritional support, and a host of other safety net programs, despite being poorer than the poorest state. These problems and others stem from Puerto Rico’s unique, long-standing colonial status, which has resulted in the island’s residents being treated as second-class citizens. continued on page 12
… an Exercise in Dishonest Paternalistic Colonialism continued from page 7 This is a bad bill because at the heart of it lies the premise that the residents of Puerto Rico can’t choose their politcal future and status directly in a congress-sponsored binding referendum. This is the same type of paternalist colonial mentality that turned Puerto Rico into an American colony in 1898. This bill should be boycotted because it is an exercise in colonialism that perpetuates the already colonial status quo. Because only one choice will be presented to the Puerto Rican electorate- those who don’t like the option chosen by the delegates and the bilateral commission (whose members are not elected), can simply boycott the referendum and claim the voter turnout doesn’t support a status change. Congress then, will agree or disagree with that claim depending on the status presented in the referendum. Congress also retain the right to do NOTHING after the referendum. Nothing at all! So, in sum, not only does this bill make the Puerto Rican electorate a supporting character in their own story, but it also includes too many mechanisms for Congress to manipulate the choice presented to the Puerto Rican electorate, AND to ignore their will even if after including all these mechanisms and undue influence- the Puerto Ricans choose an option that the Democratic leaders in Congress don’t support. This is a betrayal of democratic principles and values. Call on @NydiaVelazquez @AOC @BernieSanders @SenSchumerto to withdraw this piece of paternalistic colonial legislation.
The residents of Puerto Rico are capable enough to decide their politcal future in a direct referendum. Let’s make sure that the will and the voices of the people of Puerto Rico are not drowned by yet another act of dishonest paternalistic colonialism. HARRY FRANQUI-RIVERA is a historian by training, a professor of history by day, and a public intellectual and blogger by night. I’m the author of: Soldiers of the Nation: Military Service and Modern Puerto Rico, 1868-1952. University of Nebraska Press, 2018. You can find his academic work at: http://www.academia.edu/ and he also write and blog about current issues, from politics to foreign policy, military matters, identity, culture, race and privilege. You can find my most popular works in; Latino Rebels www.latinorebels.com/author/harryfranquirivera, Centro Voices - centropr.hunter.cuny.edu/centrovoices, www.huffingtonpost.com/author/harryfranquirivera-315 and 80Grados- www.80grados.net/author/harry-franqui-rivera/. Follow him @hfranqui.
Libros / Books
El Sol Latino April 2021
9
The Young Lords: A Radical History Author: JOHANNA FERNÁNDEZ Publisher: Durham, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 2020. 480p. • Reviewer: ANDRÉS TORRES | February 2021 This review was originally published on Criminal Law & Criminal Justice Books – (clcjbooks.rutgers.edu) East Harlem and the South Bronx, two of the most distressed neighborhoods of New York City, produced an extraordinary outburst of grassroots political radicalism over the course of three pivotal years in American history. The emergence of the militant Young Lords, young Puerto Rican (and some African American) activists of poor and working-class backgrounds, shocked the political establishment and altered perceptions of civil rights and Black Power protests. The Young Lords (the label encompasses the two phases of the groups’ early history: Young Lords Organization and Young Lords Party) effected at least a dozen consecutive actions between 1969 and 1971, directing the community’s anger and frustration with systemic oppression directly at the “establishment.” A demand for respect and a passionate caring for their people moved the Young Lords to act on Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s precepts: “The true revolutionary is guided by great feelings of love” and “Let’s be realistic. Let’s do the impossible!” Johanna Fernández’s The Young Lords: A Radical History is the definitive work on this political organization and tells the fascinating story with rich detail and narrative drama. In eleven chapters the author documents the groups’ early gang beginnings, its transformation into a media-savvy, community-based socialist organization that employed dramatic, attentiongrabbing actions, and how it came to its ultimate demise. These activists confronted race and class inequality and linked local problems to international crises and American foreign policy. They employed a variety of bold and sometimes outlandish actions that ranged from urban guerilla-style interventions of a few days to lengthy, highly planned occupations. Fernández places in historical context New York City’s health care, social welfare, education, and criminal justice systems to demonstrate how city institutions had kept poor people in vulnerable and depressed conditions. Her research is based on interviews with former members (more than are available in any previous work), multiple media and documentary accounts, and archival records, including those of COINTELPRO that were released after a long Freedom of Information Law request and a court battle. Several chapters in this 480-page volume bear the title of key actions taken by the Young Lords, i.e., “The Garbage Offensive”, “The Lead Offensive”, “The Church Offensive”, and “The Lincoln Hospital Offensive”. This allows Fernandez to delve deeply into the specifics of each event in chronological order, documenting efforts to elevate community control and enact reform, the group’s direct confrontations with police, and muckraking journalism efforts. The author also describes engagement with other advocacy groups and the enactment of sophisticated coalition politics. Fernandez’s history integrates substantial material on the original Young Lord’s Chicago chapter, explaining how it briefly joined with its New York City counterpart. Although the author suggests activity in cities throughout the Puerto Rican Diaspora, she gives few details of community organizing beyond the New York CityChicago nexus. Fernandez’s discussion of the group’s theoretical positions on internal colonialism, self-determination, and revolutionary nationalism are informative, as are questions of racial and gender identity. The Young Lord perspective challenged all Americans “to step outside their United Statescentered and narrow grasp of race and identity” (p. 269) and female members challenged patriarchy internally, for example, overturning statement favoring “revolutionary machismo,” and externally, with nuanced critiques of white feminist positions on abortion and reproductive rights (see Morales, 2016). The Young Lords were distinct from previous political efforts in four important ways: the organization 1) was the first radical political collectivity to engage and mobilize second-generation Puerto Ricans; 2) proudly embraced the African component in Boricua history, culture and identity; 3) elevated, despite internal resistance, the role of women within
radical activism; 4) and held that the most marginalized should be at the forefront of a movement’s concerns and leadership. Entering the 1970s, the Young Lords were the entity that acted on these ideas in a systematic way. Fernández’s political analysis tends to favor the “radical” side of Young Lord politics, but she is careful to note the community service programs embodied in the call to “Serve the People”, and that grassroots organizing is the necessary prelude to changing political consciousness. The book is a laudatory treatment but does not refrain from pointing out the Young Lords’ flaws and missteps. Toward the end of 1970, the militants’ armed occupation of a church seemed a step to far. The action ended without fatalities, but disenchantment arose among both community residents and members. The blistering pace of activism began to subside. The Young Lords gradually fell victim to intense political in-fighting, much of it revolving around the dominance of centralized leadership, a push for rapid expansion, and questions as to organizational purpose. By 1974, interrogation and physical torture of members accused of being “enemies of the people”, rendered the organization dysfunctional (pp. 371-373). Fernández concludes with descriptions of FBI penetration of the leadership. The spirit of love and compassion for the people that inspired the beginnings had given way to self-destruction and a painful demise. As a participant in the political struggles of these times this reviewer would have appreciated more discussion of the larger Puerto Rican movement and the afterlife of the Young Lords, particularly coverage of the Puerto Rican Socialist Party and El Comité-MINP (Puerto Rican National Left Movement). These and other organizations continued to actively organize well into the 1980s, with important coalitional efforts involving former Young Lord activists (see Velázquez, Rivera and Torres, 2021). The current volume would be enhanced by telling the story of major campaigns such as the Save Hostos movement, the fightback against the mid-1970s austerity regime during the NYC fiscal Crisis, the National Day of Solidarity with Puerto Rico, and the Bicentennial without Colonies mobilizations. Additional coverage might include the final liberation of the Nationalist Prisoners, the Vieques Solidarity work, and forays into electoral politics. These struggles mobilized tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans, Latinos, and other supporters, and exhibit the vibrancy that characterized the Puerto Rican movement well into the 1980s. Without these references, readers might falsely assume that the Puerto Rican Left disappeared with the end of Young Lord activism. I highly recommend this book for readers interested in U.S. social movement history. Fernández presents a lively narrative of an iconic organization. The story brims with exciting episodes, life stories of the main protagonists, vital lessons from grassroots organizing, and cautionary notes for today’s activists. It reminds us that authentic movements for change begin with a deep love for and commitment to the oppressed. Losing this focus will lead revolutionaries astray; what is achieved in times of passionate and selfless commitment can leave a lasting legacy. References Morales, Iris. Through the Eyes of Rebel Women: The Young Lords, 19691976. New York: Red Sugarcane Press, Inc. 2016. Velázquez, José E., Carmen Vivian Rivera, and Andrés Torres, eds. Revolution Around the Corner: Voices from the Puerto Rican Socialist Party in the United States. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2021. Andrés Torres is retired Distinguished Lecturer, Lehman College, City University of New York.
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Cultura / Culture
El Sol Latino April 2021
El rizo y la trenza: nueva exposición virtual en la Galería de Arte del RUM MAYAGÜEZ, PR | UNIVERSIDAD DE PUERTO RICO – MAYAGÜEZ | 8 de marzo de 2020 – La Galería de Arte del Departamento de Humanidades del Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez (RUM) de la Universidad de Puerto Rico (UPR) inauguró esta semana la exposición virtual El rizo y la trenza, que reúne a cuatro artistas puertorriqueñas, quienes cuestionan, a través de su arte, el racismo construido en Puerto Rico y en el Caribe. La muestra digital contiene una treintena de piezas de las artistas Maribel Canales, Nitzayra Leonor, Zuania Minier Jiménez y Yolanda Velázquez producidas en diversos medios, incluyendo fotografía, tejido, cerámica, pintura y xilografía, entre otros. Sus propuestas están relacionadas con el cabello, con el fin de visibilizar la naturalidad de la imagen afrocaribeña. “Sabemos que las personas negras viven un constante discrimen en Puerto Rico y en todo el Caribe, no solamente por su color de piel, sino también por su pelo. Estas artistas puertorriqueñas, la mayoría de ellas mujeres negras, exponen el tema usando referencias y metáforas sobre su cabello”, indicó la doctora Emilia Quiñones Otal, catedrática auxiliar de Humanidades y curadora de la exposición disponible en: http://uprm.edu/galeriadearte. El rizo y la trenza: nueva exposición virtualen la Galería de Arte del RUM
De hecho, la profesora, quien es co-cordinadora de la Galería, explicó que llevaba un tiempo investigando
Finanzas / Finances
Car-demic by MILAGROS S. JOHNSON As you know, the pandemic has caused an uproar on how we shop, leading to a large increase in online sales from food, clothing, household goods and appliances, and now cars. Yes! Consumers are buying cars online at record high numbers since the pandemic. Although there were several companies in existence prior to the pandemic, the tradition was not as common as it has been since the pandemic. It seems that shopping for a car online is not a trend, but rather a new way of shopping for one, and may very likely be here to stay. If you are a loyal reader of The Consumer Toolbox column, you may remember that auto-related sales complaints are a top leading complaint each year. I also provided tips on avoiding buying a lemon. Because a car is the second largest purchase we make, please allow me to enlighten you on the pros and cons of buying a car online. ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
No sales hassle or pressure
May not be able to test drive the car
Shop in the comfort of your home
You can’t see, smell, feel or hear the car*
View interior and exterior photos and/or video
Photo/video may not depict cosmetic imperfections
Your car is delivered to you
Condition at delivery may differ from photos/video
Typically have seven (7) days to return vehicle
No MA Lemon Law or Used Vehicle Warranty Law protection
sobre el tema y, poco antes de la pandemia, en febrero de 2020, dictó una conferencia en el Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, en la que habló sobre la propuesta artística. “Consideré que era importante que esas obras no se quedaran solamente en esa conferencia, sino que la gente las pudiera ver de frente en relación unas con las otras. Entonces, decidí hacer una exposición para la Galería de Arte, que se supone que abriera en agosto del año pasado, pero claro, con la pandemia todo se retrasó hasta ahora que la pudimos presentar virtualmente”, agregó. Quiñones Otal resumió los simbolismos que insertan las artistas en sus respectivas obras. “Nitzaida Leonor, por ejemplo, utiliza la peinilla y la trenza como punto de partida para comentar sobre el ritual del peinado. Mientras, Zuania Minier presenta una obra escultórica que habla sobre los moños que les hacen a las niñas como para controlar el pelo afro, una dinámica compleja. Yolanda Velázquez, recurre a la metáfora de la trenza como un simbolismo de unión entre el continente africano y el continente americano. Decidí incluir también la obra de Maribel Canales, quien recientemente ha empezado a tratar también el tema del pelo en su obra, que es pintura principalmente y autorretrato”, indicó. La exposición coincide con el mes de la mujer trabajadora, cuyo día se conmemora el 8 de marzo. “Es un mes en el que debemos hacer un esfuerzo adicional por destacar las voces de las mujeres y eso incluye su obra de arte”, concluyó Quiñones Otal. La exposición incluye un conversatorio en línea con las artistas que se anunciará próximamente.
Here’s my take on this. If you opt to shop online for your next car, use a well-known, reputable and reliable company. You want to avoid searching for personal ads on online marketplaces. Be sure to request or purchase a background check on the car to determine the history on the vehicle. Always do research on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (nhtsa.gov) for defect complaints, technical service bullets and recalls on that particular year, make and model. Don’t rush on your decision. Sleep on it. Give the computer and eyes a rest, and allow “cool-down” time so that you can make a better informed decision. Whichever your decision, be sure to have the vehicle pre-inspected by an independent, trustworthy mechanic who can go through the car and give it a clean bill of health for your piece of mind. *See: Excessive wear and tear (i.e. leaks, rust); Smell: Emissions problem (i.e. rotten egg) or flood history (i.e. musty, mildew); Feel: Body or paint damage (bumps or scratches); Hear: Mechanical defects (i.e. rattling, squeaks or banging sounds). Stay safe, be well…and stay informed… MILAGROS S. JOHNSON is the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Consumer Information in Springfield, a Local Consumer Program funded by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.
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Educación / Education
El Sol Latino April 2021
11
STCC named 4th Best Community College in the U.S. SPRINGFIELD, MA | SPRINGFIELD TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE | March 11, 2021 – Springfield Technical Community College was ranked as the fourth best community college in the nation and second best in Massachusetts, according to Academic Influence, a college ranking system. Academic Influence (academicinfluence.com) consists of academics and data scientists who use artificial intelligence technology to analyze publicly available data and measure the impact of work produced by the world’s top academic influencers. On March 4, the website released its first ever ranking of the 50 best community colleges in America. STCC is one of six Massachusetts community colleges listed in the top 20. “We’re honored and delighted to be ranked as one of the best community colleges in Massachusetts and the nation,” said STCC President John B. Cook. “I applaud our talented faculty President Dr. John Cook and staff for their dedication and commitment to STCC and going the extra mile to help our students succeed. Many of our faculty brings real-world technical experience into the labs and classrooms. Their expertise, combined with their caring approach to working with students, makes STCC truly shine as a wonderful and unique institution.” STCC, the Commonwealth’s only technical community college, offers comprehensive workforce and technical education in fields that include manufacturing, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), healthcare, business, human services and the liberal arts. The college is federally designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, with over 30 percent of students identifying at Latinx. Academic Influence considered 839 community colleges in the United States that were fully accredited, enrolled at least 1,000 students and provided primarily two-year associate degree programs along with certificate credentials in most cases. Academic Influence used a method known by the trademark term “Concentrated Influence” to reach conclusions and rank the institutions. According to Academic Influence, “Concentrated Influence takes the combined influence score of a college’s top academic influencers (including faculty and alums) and divides it by the school’s total number of students.
Using concentrated influence gives small and mid-sized schools an opportunity to shine by taking away the size advantage of larger schools.” “Our approach highlights community colleges that truly rank for excellence, regardless of size,” according to a description on the Academic Influence website. “If you are serious about finding the best community colleges for an associate’s degree or professional certification, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence.”
Student Kimberly Quiñonez of Springfield
Kimberly Quiñonez of Springfield, a STCC student majoring in social work/ human services, said news of the top ranking confirms that she made the right decision when she enrolled at STCC. “I’m proud to be an STCC student and thrilled to find out we are one of the best community colleges in the country,” Quinonez said. “The professors give the students a lot of attention and want us to succeed. Students also support each other. The education is excellent and you can’t find a more affordable college in the area.” According to a Forbes article about the rankings, “Community colleges offer an affordable start in higher education for many students, and they provide valuable retraining for adults looking to change or advance their careers. For many students they are the first and last best chance to earn a degree or credential. Their success is crucial not only for personal opportunities but also for the nation’s economic prosperity.” Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland was ranked No. 1. Roxbury Community College took the second spot and was the highest ranking community college in Massachusetts. The full list can be found at academicinfluence.com. Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.
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12
El Sol Latino April 2021
Dems Introduce Bill to Let Puerto Ricans ‘Determine Their Own Political Future’ continued from page 8 The time to remedy this situation has come, but it must be done correctly. Puerto Rico needs to be afforded the freedom to design its own future. That’s why the two of us, both members of Congress of Puerto Rican descent, have introduced the Puerto Rico SelfDetermination Act. The legislation that would prompt Puerto Rico’s Legislature to create a status convention whose delegates would be elected by Puerto Rican voters. This body would develop a long-term solution for Puerto Rico’s status, be that statehood, independence, free association, or any option other than the current territorial arrangement. What the convention negotiates and puts forth would then be voted on in a referendum by the people of Puerto Rico before presentation to the U.S. Congress. The key is that this framework would be developed by Puerto Ricans and for Puerto Ricans, not dictated to them like so many previous policies. By contrast, the statehood measure—which is backed by Puerto Rican Gov. Pedro Pierluisi, a member of the New Progressive Party who caucused with the House Democrats when he served as resident commissioner—would leave Puerto Rico’s future in the hands of a Congress that doesn’t even allow the territory’s delegate in Washington, D.C. to vote on legislation. That statehood bill has 57 sponsors (12 Republicans, last time I checked. This self-determination bill has more than 80 sponsors (more Senators, one GOP Senate) But there are now two bills for PR with a lot of sponsors. That is important, no matter.
Network, noted that “for over 120 years, Puerto Rico has been a colony of the United States. It has extracted wealth from Puerto Rico, persecuted political dissidents, used its land for military testing, and treated its people as human guinea pigs for Big Pharma experiments.” “More recently, its failed economic policies have left the island suffering through a debt crisis, exacerbating the harms resulting from natural disasters and the Covid-19 pandemic,” López Varona added, nodding to the devastation left by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. “This Congress and the Biden-Harris administration now have a historic opportunity to take a serious look at the impact colonialism has had on Puerto Rico and finally change course,” he said. “The Self-Determination Act provides a clear path to decolonization through self-determination that could put an end to Puerto Rico’s colonial status and ensure that its people have a voice in their future. Now is the time for Congress to pass this legislation and take an important step in addressing the human rights abuses that have been inflicted on the island.” On the campaign trail, President Joe Biden acknowledged that “moving forward to a future of renewal and respect is not fully possible without addressing the issue of Puerto Rico’s political status, which has been debated for decades,” and vowed that if elected, he would “work with representatives who support each of the status options in Puerto Rico to engage in a fair and binding process to determine their own status.”
— Julio Ricardo Varela (@julito77) March 18, 2021 Statehood would provide benefits to Puerto Ricans—including the ability to vote in federal elections and equal representation in Congress—and in the latest nonbinding referendum, a narrow majority of Puerto Ricans voted in favor of the territory becoming a state. However, some critics of the statehood push have suggested it doesn’t give residents of the territory enough say in their political system. “This plebiscite that was conducted by the New Progressive Party was a political trick to entice people to come out to the polls,” Velázquez told Axios earlier this month.
Black Lives Matter
In 1787, the founders of this country met to form a constitutional convention to decide how America ought to be governed. Now, 123 years after the U.S. government invaded Puerto Rico, we must ask the people of the Island the same question. — Rep. Nydia Velazquez (@NydiaVelazquez) March 18, 2021 “It’s highly suspect when anyone is trying to prescribe an outcome for millions of people,” Ocasio-Cortez told Axios. “We have to think about how ridiculous this is that the entire future and status of a colony of the United States should just be determined by a simple ballot referendum.” Shortly after the statehood bill’s introduction, advocates from more than 80 organizations across 16 states and the U.S. territory sent a letter urging House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to prioritize the self-determination measure, arguing that “it is only Puerto Ricans who should have the authority and right to decide the future of Puerto Rico.” The #SelfDeterminationAct provides a path to decolonization through self-determination that could finally put an end to Puerto Rico’s colonial status and ensure that the people of Puerto Rico have a voice in their future. We applaud @NydiaVelazquez & @RepAOC for introducing! pic.twitter.com/ROfoYfPRgc — #OrganizetoWin (@OurRevolutionPR) March 18, 2021 Welcoming the bill’s reintroduction, Julio López Varona, co-director of community dignity campaigns at the Center for Popular Democracy
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Política / Politics
El Sol Latino April 2021
13
The Prospects of Independence for Puerto Rico? Don’t Get Your Hopes Up by HARRY FRANQUI-RIVERA Originally posted on incoherentthoughtsblog.com - February 2, 2021 and on latinorebels.com - February 3, 2021
The most romantic and heroic vision of Puerto Rico’s future a Puerto Rican can have, is of course, an independent Puerto Rico. I bet that most Puerto Ricans have taught about it at a certain point in their lives- whether they kept it to themselves, confided it to a few people, or expressed it publicly. How not to? Wanting to be independent (as an individual, nation, or country) is the most natural thing in the world. But is it economically or politically viable? And if so, what is stopping Puerto Rico from becoming an independent nation? Here are a few thoughts on independence. But let’s start by establishing that independence is absolutely viable- both politically and economically. Puerto Rico’s independence is economically VIABLE. It will require a restructuration of the economy; a transitional period with lots of federal assistance and funding (reparations for colonization). I don’t care if you don’t like it how it sounds, that is what they are, and they are justas y necesarias. There are, however, many factors impeding independence. 1. U.S. citizenship and its effect in Puerto Rican culture and society and in national politics. 2. Little support in Puerto Rico for it. 3. Inability of the independence movement to educate the people on independence’s viability That Pesky Citizenship Issue and Puerto Rico’s Military Value U.S. citizenship was extended to Puerto Ricans in 1917 (as the result of a long process) to quench political unrest; to secure the Puerto Ricans’ loyalty; to signal the United States’ intention to never relinquish sovereignty over Puerto Rico; and to be able to claim that the United States didn’t have colonies. The US’s WWI allies saw right through it. Puerto Rico remained a classic colony until 1952 when it became a reformed, rebranded colony. Citizenship for its people complicated Puerto Rico’s political history- and choices. The archipelago’s military value was understood by the Spaniards and by the new imperial power, the Americans. This is well known. Such value only increased before the outbreak of WWII as military capabilities and conflagration made the world smaller. We need to remember that in the 1930s the United States’ Congress had paved the way for the Philippines’ independence (Tydings-McDuffie Bill of 1934). Moreover, because of the Great Depression (and the American public losing its stomach for empire) Puerto Trico could’ve followed a similar path. It would’ve been rather easy at the time to take away the Puerto Ricans’ US citizenship (years before the Nationality Act of 1940 made it impossible to do so). Next step: keeping a military presence in support of the newly created and uber-pro-American new Republic of Puerto Rico. A new republic under the “protection” of the United States. In fact, withdrawing but staying. I guess that you must be thinking I started following some type of Qanon boricua cult- not yet. Those were the actual conversations in the halls of Congress and the White House. The U.S. Marines even had exercises based on this scenario; and well, Congressman Tydings put it in several independence bills. Nationalism and How Independence Suffered muerte súbita So, what happened? As I have argued elsewhere that Pedro Albizu Campos killed independence for Puerto Rico. There, I said it. But, how? The shooting war between nacionalistas and the insular police in the 1930s on the brink of WWII ended any possibility that the United States would follow that path.
Hiram Rosado and Elias Beauchamp killed the Chief of the Puerto Rican Insular Police, Colonel Riggs, and were in turn extra-judicially executed while in police custody, on February 23, 1936. Those events made the FDR administration walk back any REAL plans for independence. That event strengthened jingoism in Congress. I know what you are thinking- what about the many independence bills introduced by Tydings? Well, Mr. Tydngs never knew he was been played by the Department of the Interior (FDR administration) to introduce punitive independence bills that if passed and accepted would mean economic ruin for Puerto Rico while still under the tutelage of the United States. Again, withdrawing but not leaving. Even Ruby Black, a journalist, and biographer of Eleanor Roosevelt and a personal friend of Luis Muñoz Marín, wrote to his wife, Muna Lee, that the act had been a stupid crime because Riggs supported independence for Puerto Rico- and the United States’ government could not afford to give up a territory following political violence. It would be seen as having lost a war. Pardon the long history lesson- but 1936 is a year that put many nails on Puerto Rico’s independence casket. World War II in Europe was just three years away. Spain was in a civil war that turned into a loose coalition of leftists and centrists versus fascism, and the United States main interests- Asia and the Chinese markets, were in jeopardy because of Japanese expansionism. Does it sound like the world was in flames? It was. More Military and Diplomatic Value WWII solidified the US’ hold over Puerto Rico. When the war ended, the United States had emerged as the first truly hegemonic global superpower, its reputation around the world unmatched; and with mountains of capital to invest throughout the world. Even more important- the war had gotten Puerto Rico out of the Great Depression and put it squarely on the path to modernization. Before Bootstrap there was another century of development in a decade due to the military economy, and over 60,000 Puerto Ricans participate in the war. You can bet that independence was not what most Puerto Ricans had in mind at that time. I have written at length about the 1950 Nationalist Revolt. It failed miserably and in fact, it proved to Congress and the Truman administration the viability of a stable Puerto Rico under the ELA. You never know who you work for. And though the ELA was not meant to block independence- the revolt kid of had that effect. https://usso.uk/war-among-all-puerto-ricans-the-nationalist-revoltand-the-creation-of-the-estado-libre-asociado-of-puerto-rico-part-one/ The invention of the ELA wasn’t about Luis Muñoz Marín betraying independence but about him throwing independence a lifeline. If anything, he was pressured in Washington to accept a new economic project and to walk away from independence. The biggest threat? The Armed Forces sending officials to speak on behalf of statehood for Puerto Rico during congressional hearings on Puerto Rico’s status. This was done- I guess- as lip service and intended to scare LMM. With the new military capabilities developed during WWII, Puerto Rico had lost some of its military value, but the diplomatic one actually increased. Empires were being dismantled worldwide- and the ELA provided a third way for decolonization- and that is how the US presented it to the world. That is why the US was so supportive of the ELA until the Cold War ended. So, What Happened to the Independence Movement? During that long Cold War period, the independence movement went through highs and lows, mostly lows. Repression and persecution, plus some bouts of progress and the establishment of a vast diaspora are responsible for it. Even though the PIP (Pro-independence party) candidate for governor, Juan continued on page 14
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Política / Politics
El Sol Latino April 2021
The Prospects of Independence for Puerto Rico? Don’t Get Your Hopes Up continued from page 13 Dalmau Ramírez, obtained 13% of the votes in the 2020 general elections, that does not mean that support for independence has grown significantly. A vote for Dalmau was not necessarily a vote for independence just like a vote for Alexandra Lúgaro (almost 14%) was not a vote for Miss Universe Puerto Rico. They were votes for change, for new faces.
Finally, in 2021 the problem is not that the United States political establishment its reluctant to give Puerto Rico independence, but that they would have to unilaterally impose it unless the pro-independence movement figures out how to reach the Puerto Rican public, and the citizenship question is resolved in a manner that satisfies the Puerto Ricans.
This is not the first time this happens in Puerto Rico- remember the PIP candidates for senator at large (acumulación) in the 1980-90s and how even statehooders voted for them? Nothing new under the sun.
If you have suggestions, I’m all ears- and eyes.
The vote for Luis Roberto Piñero, PIP candidate to comisonado residente (Puerto Rico’s Representative to Congress) at 6.30% is more indicative of the strength of the PIP. That being said, the PIP is not the only player seeking independence. Altogether, the independence movement could gain 10 to 15 or even 20 percent of the votes. Prospects for Independence? Far, far, away. To put it bluntly, if asking statehood with about 52-55 percent of the electorate behind you, and as U.S. citizens, puts members of Congress in a difficult position, imagine the same Congress deciding that they are going to support giving independence to Puerto Rico with perhaps 20-25% of the electorate, and, passing an amendment to remove U.S. citizenship from Puerto Ricoborn… well, Puerto Rico-born Puerto Ricans. Even closet and mildly open racists will have a hard time explaining their support for such measures. I mentioned the military and diplomatic relevance of Puerto Rico for the United States, right? They are both gone. Since the 1990s Puerto Rico’s military importance has been kaput. And since the end of the Cold War, we are no longer needed as a showcase of how good things are under Uncle Sam (as if). If anything, with the revival of the anti-colonial narrative (joined by estadistas too), Puerto Rico is like pica pica in the middle of the back of the United States. You know, that spot that can’t be reached. And we find ourselves in a conundrum. Now it is the perfect time for the United States to let Puerto Rico go. And you can bet that the GOP would only be so happy for it (and many Democrats too). But that pesky citizenship, plus not being able to generate wide support for it among the Puerto Ricans, put us in the situation that the door seems open; our luggage packed; el carro público is waiting outside; our plain tickets loaded to our phones; we posted our plans on social media – but we are not going anywhere. I grew up in Puerto Rico in the 70s and 80s- and some people use the argument that if we wanted independence the US was “jarto de mantenernos” and we were no longer important, that we just had to walk away or shut up and show appreciation to papito Sam. First, we have never been manteníos– we been paying our bills since 1898. And we only lost our geopolitical relevance as the Cold War ended. So, that is not my argument. But this is the first time since the 1930s in which independence could be achieved if it weren’t for the fact that it doesn’t have much support in Puerto Rico- and that pesky citizenship. The point is that independence is almost impossible to attain. Even if through a legal loophole- SCOTUS decided that the US citizenship of the Puerto Rican-born can be revoked.
Dr. Harry Franqui-Rivera is a professor of history by day, and a public intellectual and blogger by night in cOHERENT Thoughts (incoherentthoughtsblog.com). He is the author of: Soldiers of the Nation: Military Service and Modern Puerto Rico, 1868-1952. University of Nebraska Press, 2018. You can find his academic work at: http://www.academia.edu. You can find his most popular works in; Latino Rebels (latinorebels.com), Centro Voices (centropr.hunter. cuny.edu/centrovoices), and 80 Grados (80grados.net). Follow him @ hfranqui or email him at, harryfranquirivera@gmail.com
at https://www.facebook.com/ El-Sol-Latino-280862535259910
s u T n e C C T S a ¡Incluye Planes de Verano! Tenemos disponibles en-línea docenas de cursos de educación general y electivas. ¡Garantizamos que los cursos de educación general se pueden transferir a UMass, Westfield State (y otros más) para que así puedas ahorrar dinero!
A few things to consider. 1. Independence will also require to keep an eye on the local elites that have been benefiting from exploiting the colony since they came in great numbers in the nineteenth century ( yes, this is my José Luis González’s segundo piso moment). 2. Many Americans in high positions favor independence because that will remove many protections. And, again, local elites will be only too happy to remove labor protections. Anyone who has worked for decades in Puerto Rico know this. 3. Please stop the Stockholm Syndrome and battered wife analogies to describe Puerto Rico and the Puerto Ricans. It is weak and demeaning.
La matrícula comienza el 21 de abril.
stcc.edu/summer 3/11/21 El Sol Latino 1/4 page: 4.75” x 5.75” Manuel Frau Ramos: manuelfrau@gmail.com Due: 5 days prior to the run month Runs: April
Política / Politics
El Sol Latino April 2021
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Delmarina López Announces Run for Chicopee Ward 3 Councilor CHICOPEE, MA | PRESS RELEASE | March 22, 2021 - Attorney Delmarina López announced that she is running for Chicopee Ward 3 City Council. “I believe in local politics,” said Lopez. “As a resident, I believe that real, meaningful change occurs at a local level and that people deserve an advocate that not only understands their needs but that they are able to see themselves in. This isn’t a title, it’s a great responsibility that I do not take lightly. I embody what it is to be from Chicopee and I am committed to hearing the concerns of my fellow residents doing my part to support the betterment of Ward 3 and the City of Chicopee.” López, 25, is a graduate of the Chicopee Public Schools, and native of Puerto Rico. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Bay Path University and a Juris Doctor from Western New England University School of Law. López’s deep commitment to her community and her fervent passion for social justice and women’s rights led her to pursue a Juris Doctor at Western New England University School of Law where she made it her personal mission to ensure that her passion for Public Interest Law and serving her local community always remained at the forefront. During her time at WNEU Law, she was Co-President of the WNEU National Lawyers’
Guild, an Associate Justice of the Judicial Advisory Board, and took part in both the Criminal Defense Practicum and in the Immigration/Legal Aid Clinic. Her civic engagement and social justice background include becoming the youngest person to serve as an intern at the Governor of Massachusetts’ Western Mass. Regional Office under the Deval Patrick’s administration at the age of 16. Subsequently, she was a Legal Assistant and Law Clerk at the Secretary of State’s Western Mass Office from 2018 to 2021. Committed to equity and social justice, Lopez has served in a volunteer capacity on several political campaigns, as well as being the Campaign Coordinator for the Committee to Elect Anthony Soto for Holyoke Mayor, in the year 2015. At Bay Path University, she served the student body as president of the Student Government Association, Council Member of the Diversity and Inclusion Community Council, and Founding Executive Committee Member of A.L.A.N.A. Leaders. Currently, she works as Lead Counsel on Habeas Corpus Cases at a Connecticut law firm. She also serves as a Board Member on the Board of Directors of the YWCA of Springfield.
Darlene Reina Announces Election Bid for Chicopee City Council’s 3rd Ward CHICOPEE, MA | PRESS RELEASE | March 29, 2021 - Darlene Reina, 29, is running for Chicopee City Council, Ward 3. If elected she would be the first person of color and the first woman in 15 years elected to city wide office in Chicopee. She stated: “As City Councilor, my job will be to make sure the community’s ideas are listened to and uplifted. My job is to amplify the voices and needs of Ward 3 residents throughout all levels of City Government”. As a homeowner, Darlene chose Chicopee as her home and has a strong connection to the city and a passion for serving the community. Darlene Reina is a first-time candidate running for the Ward 3 Chicopee City Council seat. Darlene is a bilingual first-generation American Latina. Her professional experience ranges from working for large tech companies to public higher education, including Greenfield Community College, in information technology. This past year, she volunteered on Adam Gomez’s successful state senate campaign and helped new voters register for the 2020 election. For seven years she volunteered at RIOT RI (FKA Girls Rock! RI), a nonprofit organization that empowers youth through music. She was the youngest person ever to be elected to the Board of Directors and went on to serve as Chair of the Board. She currently serves on The Caucus Advisory Council for the Girls Rock Camp Alliance, an international membership network of youth-centered arts and social justice organizations. Chicopee is home to innovation and creativity; Darlene is committed to investing city resources into community-centric projects. As a City Councilor, it will be her priority to lower barriers to civic participation to ensure that Chicopee residents are empowered within local government. Organizing with fellow Chicopeans this past year, Darlene pushed for the current city council
to establish a charter review commission to allow residents to have a larger voice in how their city operates and empower residents to hold their officials accountable. In her conversations with residents, many have pointed out the need to better communicate around city projects, and better coordination within municipal departments. By leveraging her professional experience, Darlene has the skills to build better channels of communication and knows how to work with multiple stakeholders with competing priorities. Leveraging her experience with empowering youth, Darlene will push to make our city more accessible to the youth of Chicopee, by centering their experiences in civic decisions, partnering with local educators and making sure their voices are heard in City Hall. Darlene is committed to helping Chicopee thrive. Chicopee has many strengths, from the growing farmers’ markets to the thriving arts scene and trusted local businesses. However, there is also much work to be done. Darlene has the experience and is ready to do the work required to represent Ward 3 with honor and integrity. The Primary Election will be held on September 21, 2021 and the General Election will follow on November 2, 2021. Ward 3 polling place is Stefanik Memorial Elementary School located at 720 Meadow Street Chicopee, MA. To register to vote please visit https://www.chicopeema.gov/358/Register-toVote. Deadline to Register: September 1, 2021 for the Primary and October 13, 2021 for the Municipal Election. For more information on Darlene Reina and her campaign to represent Chicopee’s Ward 3 please visit www.ElectDarlene.com or https://www. facebook.com/ElectDarlene.
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El Sol Latino April 2021
Fine Arts Center
PRIMAVERA 2021 - EVENTOS VIRTUALES
Miwa Matreyek: Infinitely Yours Martes, Abril 6 | 7 p.m. ET - Boletos $10
Usando proyecciones en capas, el artista multimedia con sede en Los Ángeles, MIWA MATREYEK, crea una meditación emocional y similar a un sueño sobre el cambio climático. La sombra de Miwa atraviesa macro y micro escalas, ya que su silueta se desplaza para experimentar el mundo desde varias perspectivas.
Silkroad Ensemble with Special Guests Jueves, Abril 29 | 7 p.m. ET Boletos $12
Silkroad Ensemble, ganadores del premio Grammy, presentan momentos destacados de su trayectoria de más de 20 años. En la presentación, que será seguida de una sesión de Preguntas y Respuestas, los artistas de Silkroad y sus invitados especiales hablarán de todo, desde sus influencias musicales hasta el futuro y el impacto social de las organizaciones dedicadas a las artes.
ARTES VISUALES EN LÍNEA
AUGUSTA SAVAGE GALLERY
JuPong Lin: Poetics of Repair Being Earth, Being Water
Leonardo & Sam: the Terrible Monster and the Most Scaredy-Cat Kid in the Whole World, Respectively Domingo, Abril 11, 2021 | 3:00 p.m. ET - Boletos $12 A Manual Cinema Monster Movie
Inspirado en el querido libro para niños/as de Mo Willems, el Manual Cinema utiliza increíbles proyecciones, cinema, y sonido para contar la historia del monstruo que anhela poder asustar y las grandes decisiones sobre identidad y empatía que todos debemos hacer. La presentación será seguida por una sesión de Preguntas y Respuestas.
En colaboración con el UMass Bach Festival
Matt Haimovitz: Bach Listening Room Domingo, Abril 25 | 3 p.m. ET - Boletos $10
Reconocido como un pionero en el campo de la música, el cellista Matt Haimovitz trae un refrescante sonido a un repertorio familiar, es un exponente de música nueva e inicia colaboraciones innovadoras.
Presentación Digital, Talleres & Exhibición, Abril 2 – 22 Presentación de Inauguración - Premier: Viernes, Abril 2, 4 p.m. ET, GRATIS en Zoom Talleres: Viernes, Abril 9 & 16, 4 p.m. ET, GRATIS en Zoom Recepción de Clausura: Día de la Tierra, Jueves, Abril 22, 4 p.m. ET, GRATIS en Zoom Poetics of Repair es una instalación participativa de poesía, aves de papel, y canoas, inventando una medicina de amor de-colonizado para remendar nuestro mundo devastado.
Celebrating Brett - A Life in Art
Abril 23 a Mayo 5, 2021 Recepción de Inauguración: Viernes, Abril 23, 6 p.m. ET, GRATIS Exhibición digital del trabajo de Brettney Young, con la contribución de los artistas Kamil Peters y Barbara Boseman. Una exhibición de dibujos cómicos y políticos, íntimos y audaces, conmemorando la memoria de Brettney Young, un querido miembro de nuestra comunidad cuyo arte se convirtió en un espacio significativo en su corta vida.
HAMPDEN GALLERY
Bruce Ackerson: BIRDS-EYE VIEWS Hampden
Hasta Mayo 14, 2021 Charla con el Artista: Viernes, Abril 9, 12 p.m. ET, GRATIS Las pinturas de Ackerson se distinguen por su punto panorámico alto y sus superficies de ricas texturas. Presenta escenas narrativas que son una opinión imaginativa de la cultura popular, la vida moderna y el mundo escondido de la psiquis humana.
UNIVERSITY MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
MIRROR MIRROR: THE PRINTS OF ALISON SAAR de las Colecciones de Jordan D. Schnitzer y La Fundación de su Familia Febrero a Abril 2021
WE ARE FOR FREEDOMS
Curatorial Fellowship Exhibition: Artefactos del Final de una Década Febrero a Abril 2021 The UMass Fine Arts Center is supported by the New England Foundation for the Arts through the New England Arts Resilience Fund, part of the United States Regional Arts Resilience Fund, an initiative of the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, with major funding from the federal CARES Act from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Para boletos llamar al: 413-545-2511 ó al 800-999-UMAS ó en línea fineartscenter.com
