Section 6

Resistance and New Imaginaries

The varied ways in which Puerto Ricans—on the island and abroad—have challenged the Fiscal Oversight Board and policies of austerity.

Citizens have organized themselves,

for example, to protest the first scheduled conference of the Board for the Puerto Rico Oversight Management and Economic Stability Act. However, there are also various newly-formed activist groups, such as Campamento Contra la Junta, #SeAcabaronLasPromesas, and Frente Ciudadano por la Auditroía de la Deuda. One unit refers to this last group’s dedication to accomplishing a citizen-led debt audit, their protests, and their confrontations with the police.

The University of Puerto Rico, a historically powerful source of protest, is particularly vulnerable to austerity measures since most of its funding comes from the government. The Fiscal Oversight Board’s threats of drastically reducing the university’s budget propelled the students into a two-month strike. Another unit surveys the students’ demands and negotiations, their role in the general political struggle on the Island, and the way in which their tactics provoked criticism from other students and from different sectors of society.

Outside the Island, The Puerto Rico Diaspora Summit, which has its own unit, brought academics, politicians, and activists together to organize the Diaspora and find solutions to the Island’s economic struggles. Although artists are involved in many of these groups, one unit focuses specifically on how they have used their craft to underscore the experiences and crises Puerto Ricans endure and to challenge the colonial relationship between the Island and the US.

Disaster Literature

Archives of Indebtedness

Marta Aponte Alsina, PR 3 Aguirre. Sopa de Letras, 2018.

PR Aguirre resists generic classification: some parts are written in a form that conveys historical objectivity and other moments trouble this objectivity by integrating fiction and poetic discourse into explanations of the past. Delving into the sugar industry in Puerto Rico, specifically in the Central Aguirre Syndicate which was founded a year after the US invasion, this text probes the ways in which one can learn and name the history of a colonial space.

Yolanda Arroyo Pizarro, Las Negras, Editora Educación Emergente, 2016.

This collection of stories imagines the perspectives of Black women who were enslaved in Puerto Rico. Arroyo Pizarro visibilizes Puerto Rico’s maroon history and, specifically, the crucial role that women played in resistance.

Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa, A Woman of Endurance, Harper Collins, 2022.

In this neo-slave narrative, we follow Pola, an African woman, who is enslaved in 19th century Puerto Rico. Challenging normative ideologies about Puerto Rico’s “benevolent slavery,” Llanos-Figueroa details the horrors Pola endures. However, Pola is eventually supported by a network of enslaved women with whom she heals. She also cultivates her capacity to love by caring for an orphan girl, Chachita.

Carlos Manuel Rivera-Rosado, Cocobalé Danza de Guerra: Relatos Cimarrones del Caribe y América, Auto-publicado, 2019.

In this work of speculative history, we see various fictitious stories about real maroon leaders and the processes and tactics of maroon resistance across Latin America, from South America to the Caribbean. When writing about Puerto Rico, Rivera Rosado explores various characters: Marcos Xiorro and Concepción, who led a rebellion in Bayamón, La Compañía de Morenos Libres de Cangrejos, and a young Black girl who tactically uses the legal system to fight for her freedom.

Mayra Santos-Febres, Boat People, Callejón, 2005. Translation by Vanessa Pérez-Rosario.

This poetry collection explores the Middle Passage and the legacies of slavery in Puerto Rico. In Boat People, Santos Febres imagines an “illegal” underwater city that contains the bodies engulfed by the ocean. Here, they manage to escape surveillance.

Marisel Vera, The Taste of Sugar: A Novel, Liveright, 2020.

This novel examines an understudied aspect of Puerto Rican history: the 19th-century migration of Puerto Ricans to Hawaii to work on plantations. Due to the devastating circumstances in Puerto Rico after Hurricane San Ciriaco, the main characters, Vicente and Valentina, must leave their coffee farm and life in Utuado to search for better opportunities. Vera’s novel is hauntingly relevant to the current realities Puerto Ricans face.

Dystopian/ Utopian Realities

Edgardo Miranda-Rodríguez, et al., Ricanstruction: Reminiscing and Rebuilding Puerto Rico. Somos Arte, 2018.

This graphic novel anthology contains stories by various writers that feature Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez’s original superhero, La Borinqueña. La Borinqueña appears alongside many traditional DC superheroes, who aide her in her efforts. Together, they discuss Puerto Rico’s history as they rebuild the Island.

Juan Carlos Quiñones, “Bar Shope nhauer.”Ediciones Une, 2015.

This novel takes place in a bar in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico. This spectral urban space is a crucial setting for this gothic-style novel. The plot revolves around the vampires, prostitutes, and members of the cover band that frequent this bar. Within this bar, the characters only see the “ghosts of things”; they believe that reality is only an illusion and the world can only be experienced aesthetically. However, all the philosophical theories as well as all of the vampire’s lives collapse unto each other and become unidentifiable.

Juan López Bauzá, Barataria. Libros AC, 2012.

This satirical novel discusses Puerto Rico’s political debates and economic crisis through the dialogues of two characters reminiscent of Don Quijote and Sancho Panza. Barataria is the name of the island governed by Sancho or, in this case, Margaro whose madness increases as he assumes his role of power. Don Quijote(Chiquitín in López Bauzá’s text), becomes the chief anthropologist in a made-up expedition where he attempts to locate an emblem that belonged to Boriken’s main cacique. He is also a great defender of the great corporation that is the American nation. This novel provokes Puerto Rican readers to laugh at themselves.

Juan Lopez Bauzá, El resplandor de Luzbella. Planeta, 2018.

This novel takes place on a fictional Caribbean island called Luzbella. Outside the island, very little is known about Luzbella’s history, its inhabitants, its peaceful lifestyle, or the source of its wealth. Information begins to be revealed when a Puerto Rican reporter is invited to interview Luzbella’s mysterious president. Many of the island’s mystical aspects are wrapped up in virtual realities. This novel explores the possibility of utopian futures in the Caribbean.

Pedro Cabiya, Tercer Mundo. Zemí, 2019.

This novel takes place in three worlds: First, Second, and Third. The Third World lives under the constant threat of being invaded by the two other worlds, which provoke catastrophes. This fantastic reality of orishas, saints, and devils is also permeated with characters and events that are incredibly familiar and mundane: part of the novel’s plot involves two rival drug dealers trying desperately to get into the First World. Through República Borikwá, Cabiya combines science fiction with parody in order to reflect on Puerto Rico’s politics.

Luis Negrón, Mundo Cruel. Libros AC, 2010.

In this collection of short stories, Negrón depicts the precarious and difficult life of the gay community in Santurce. Yet, through unity and friendship, these characters forge spaces where happiness can be enjoyed while facing scarcity and disease. In “La Edwin,” an older generation “loca” who knows the pain of AIDS, discrimination, and heartbreak, serves as an effective and affective therapy session for La Edwin, who is attending group therapy to be cured of their homosexuality. Not only does “la loca” provide circuits of help through gossip, they also serve as an alternate revolutionary model to the modern-day pro-independence “Che Guevara” Puerto Rican who had broken La Edwin’s heart. “Mundo Cruel,” the title story, also provides another utopian imaginary where queerness in Puerto Rico is generally accepted and is state-sponsored. Throughout the text, utopian possibilities are put into question, but friendship provides characters with the necessary fortitude to survive while in crisis.

Luis Othoniel Rosa, Caja de Fractales.Entropia, 2013.

After an apocalypse whose source is unclear, Puerto Ricans are trying to rebuild their society. This novel is focalized through a group of rebels who survive from violence and anguish on the outskirts. They all search for the Cathedral, which represents the sole haven on the island. However, its existence is doubted.

Marta Aponte Alsina, Somos Islas: ensayos de camino. Educación Emergente, 2015.

This collection of essays considers how the Caribbean archipelago is connected through exploitation, capitalism, and colonization. The author proposes decolonial perspectives and futures where these bad connections can be substituted with horizontal and diverse encounters. Furthermore, art and literature are critical methodologies that provide alternatives to catastrophe.

The Colonial Quotidian

Bonafide Rojas, Notes on the Return to the Island. Grand Concourse Press, 2017.

In this collection of poetry, the author hones in on Puerto Rico’s current political and social issues from the perspective of someone from the Diaspora, who continually returns and leaves. However, the Island’s debt crisis and colonialism is combined with more personal topics, such as his family’s Puerto Rican heritage.

Carla Rodríguez and Rosa Colón Guerra “Goodbye, For Now.” Soda Pop Comics, 2016.

One friend tells another about her plans to move to Chicago. In the context of many loved ones who leave Puerto Rico with no plans on returning, this news is not easy to bear. This comic strip reflects on the reasons that people have for leaving the Island, the stigmas that they often bear, and the pain they both cause and endure.

Cezanne Cardona Morales, Levittown mon amour. Ediciones Callejón, 2018.

This collection of short stories takes place in Levittown, a working-class community in Puerto Rico. The characters, who inhabit this space that has suffered from changes in the economy and from natural disasters, represent anyone we may know, but also those who are often judged, such as parents who do not or cannot care for their children and drug addicts. However, these stories identify, in a sort of fantastical manner, love and compassion that flourishes in difficult and mundane situations.

Christian Ibarra, “La Ola.” 80 grados, July 1, 2016.

An enormous wave is about to consume those on dry land. Some run and some wait and face the silent giant. In this dream-like story, this wave that does not originate in the sea, can represent a plethora of ills attempting to overpower the Puerto Rican people.

Christian Ibarra, Ventanas. Libros AC, 2017.

This short story collection expresses some necessary optimism for depressing times: how the miniscule can aid in the survival of great disasters. Puerto Rico is represented both as an immense and remarkable sea, and as an urban space. Moreover, it is often an island from which one must escape. Many characters live in economic precarity, such as a father who gets in drag to feed his child, and students who can only get work as waiters after graduating.

Elidio La Torre, “natural disaster #2: wooden fish ears.” The American Poetry Journal, Issue 15, December 2017.

This poem contains many images that remind one of hurricanes: roofs flying away, solar lamps, and dead swollen animals floating in water. By piecing these various images together, one can identify a child who is trying to make sense of these occurrences and a father who is struggling to provide food.

Francisco Félix, Esta Isla. Alayubia, 2019.

Félix’s island consists of a decaying urbanity that, regardless of its broken sidewalks and its citizen-cadavers, holds the stories of its inhabitants. This poetry collection adds to the already rich metaphor of the island in order to imagine it as memory, as both what’s forgotten and what remains: “Entre las grietas se asoma el fracaso/ de los transeúntes,/ el alumbrado brilla por su ausencia./ La oscuridad se ha vuelto el camino de la memoria” (26). These hardened cityscapes are placed alongside the more domestic space of the grandmother, whom the speaker witnesses pouring salt and drinking Malta India, against the doctor’s orders. The grandmother’s search for small pleasures in times of austerity puts the island’s crisis poignantly into relief.

Juan Lopez Bauza, El mar de Azov. Libros AC, 2016.

Martín León Mercado is obsessed with the coincidences he finds between two historical battles: the battle of Stalingrad and the Spartan battle commanded by Leonidas. He leaves San Juan to seek work in a mansion in the south of the Island, where ruins of the exploitation of the land and of its people still exist (signs of petrochemical companies and cane growing). The absurdity of Puerto Rican daily life surfaces in the relationship between the sinister and the common: life continues in a community located on the shore while this mysterious mansion hovers over them.

Loretta Collins Klobah, Ricantations. Peepal Tree Press, 2018.

In a complex combination of love, joy, and despair, this poetry collection represents a Puerto Rican society that suffered even before Hurricane María hit. For instance, it tackles assassination and the threat of male sexuality. However, the author also discusses the vulnerability and fear that a hurricane provokes. Other Caribbean islands also serve as locations in these poems.

Mara Pastor, Poemas para fomentar el turismo. La Secta de los Perros, 2012.

As Emilio S. Belaval’s book, Cuentos para fomenter el turismo, discusses, tourism is often considered a solution and savior to Puerto Rico’s crisis. Yet, he represents a Puerto Rican society that does not organize itself around tourism and that actively resists Americanization and capitalism. This collection of poetry responds to Belaval and considers the life and perspective of the traveler. The poems take place in various locations and reflect on the role of Puerto Ricans themselves as tourists or migrants.

Martín Espada, “Mad Love,” Vivas to Those Who Have Failed: Poems, W. W. Norton & Company, 2017.

In this poem, the author describes his father’s activism: he was a community organizer in New York City and took photos of Puerto Ricans. The poem describes some of these images and how they gave a face to the faceless.

Vita Ayala, Puerto Rico Strong: A Comics Anthology Supporting Puerto Rico Disaster.
Diamond, 2018.

This comics anthology includes art and writing by many Puerto Rican authors. In both realistic and fantastical ways, the stories in this text explore different forms of being Puerto Rican, either on the Island or in the Diaspora. All its proceeds go towards disaster relief.

Mayra Santos-Febres, editor, San Juan Noir . Akashic Books, 2016.

In this collection, each short story is set in a different neighborhood within San Juan. Unlike the typical beach sceneries, this collection provides different perspectives and experiences of Puerto Rico’s urban landscape. In the context of economic crisis, crime, and struggle, “noir” becomes an appropriate genre.

Sergio Gutiérrez Negrón, Dicen que los dormidos . 3rd edition, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, 2017.

This novel takes place in the XXI century and hones in on the daily life of the professional middle class in Puerto Rico. Even though this social class tries to construct a haven apart from the rest of the world, it cannot fully escape violence: one character gets injured accidentally in a shooting and wakes up after being in coma for 4 years. This novel displays the first phases of the economic crisis on the Island.

Sofia Irene Cardona, Mari Mari Narvaez, Ana Teresa Perez Leroux, Vanessa Vilches Norat, Del desorden habitual de las cosas. Capicúa, 2015.

This text compiles writings that these four authors published in the newspaper Claridad. These texts invite readers to find new solutions for quotidian problems and, therefore, imagine new futures for Puerto Rico. Some topics include the power of literature, the crucial role of young people, and resistance at the individual and collective level.

Xavier Valcarcel, Restos de lumbre y despedida. Erizo Editorial, 2012.

This poetry collection is about melancholy and memory. For instance, some poems reflect on collective memory and identity—on how these are invented and reinvented through experiences such as strikes and resistance.

The Hurricane Doesn’t Roar in Pentameter

Ana Portnoy, “Minister Puerto Rico Preaches to Caribbean After Hurricane Irma.” Kweli, December 1, 2017.

This poem is a meditation on Puerto Rico’s history of colonialism and slavery, and how this past resurfaces in the Island’s ill-treatment after natural disasters. The speaker attempts to locate fault as a means of making sense of Hurricane Irma.

Ana Portnoy, “To Julia Keleher, Puerto Rico’s Secretary of Education, who was on the same American Airlines flight as me four months after Hurricane María.” La Respuesta, March 12, 2018.

Julia Keleher’s comfortable priority seat on an American Airlines flight is contrasted to the view she ignores (of FEMA tarps, military trucks, and overflowing reservoirs). The indignant speaker of this poem highlights the many schools that the Secretary of Education decided to close: Keleher also doesn’t notice the golden sands of the schools’ remains.

Ángeles Molina Iturrondo, “Contar los muertos.” 80 grados, June 22, 2018.

Cadavers emerge on trees, under zinc roofs, floating on water. This reappearance is how the author describes the way in which, months after Hurricane María and without registers or certificates, Puerto Ricans begin to identify their dead. Divided into many small sections, this text describes various scenes about the “invisible dead”—the dead that one could not fully keep track of after the storm.

Beatriz Llenín-Figueroa, “Quiso ser un diario de huracán, pero no pudo.” Ahora la turba, October 25, 2017.

This text is divided in short sections that contain distinct meditations on the effects and causes of Hurricane María as time passes. The author’s emotions are evident through her descriptions: the anger of realizing that the unnatural disaster is a massive assassination, the pain of hearing someone respond “I have not seen her,” the fear of seeing armed military in front of stores. The author is also indignant with the United States, which has a historical and ethical obligation with Puerto Rico.

COMIC BOOK: Rangy J. Garcia Colón, “Ave María A comic Diary of Category 5 Catastrophe”

Combining humor and catastrophe, this comic strip details the author’s experiences throughout several days, starting with Hurricane María’s arrival in Puerto Rico. We can observe the diverse ways in which people reacted to the Hurricane’s effects, the confusion after the hurricane, the lack of communication, the search for food and gas, and the unbearable heat. In a serious turn, we witness how, with a lack of reception and incapacity to contact the police, people are defenseless against criminals. When time passes, and the Island’s situation doesn’t improve, the main character angrily critiques the US and the local government. Gocho, her pet pigeon, plays a prominent role in the narrative.

Denice Frohman, “& mommy says throw me in the river when I’m dead.” The Acentos Review, February 2018.

This poem represents a conversation, where one of the speakers is a Puerto Rican from the diaspora who cannot decide where she wants her ashes thrown: in the Hudson, in Lares, or in Adjuntas. This decision is imbued with new meaning when the child tells her mother that a hurricane has hit the Island. The mother explains how a body can become a burden.

E. S. Ortiz González. Estrategias de combate. Instituto de Cultura, 2017.

This collection of poetry contains an aesthetics and style of combat, which is required in a world of all-encompassing ruin and failure. This combat often takes place as a philosophical war, with the author going as far as making references to Kant and Heidegger. Furthermore, the poet enacts the role of samurai, mercenary, soldier, and bandit. The goal of this combat is always to protect what and who is loved.

Edgardo Rodríguez Juliá, “Simplemente María.” El Nuevo Día, October 7, 2017.

They tried guessing what was producing the loud and terrifying noises coming from outside: were the objects that were flying around antennas or aluminum roofs? This brief reflection on experiencing Hurricane María expresses the fear and discomfort of hearing a hurricane threatening to destroy the house in which you are seeking shelter. The author also discusses stepping outside after the hurricane, seeing what looks like a battle zone, and realizing all that is irrevocably different and lost.

Elidio La Torre, “natural disaster #2: wooden fish ears.” The American Poetry Journal, Issue 15, December 2017.

This poem contains many images that remind one of hurricanes: roofs flying away, solar lamps, and dead swollen animals floating in water. By piecing these various images together, one can identify a child who is trying to make sense of these occurrences and a father who is struggling to provide food.

Gemma Sou, After Maria: Everyday Recovery from Disaster.

For one year, Dr Gemma Sou and Dr Felix Aponte-Gonzalez conducted ethnographic research, following 16 low-income Puerto Rican families to find out how they recovered from Maria. Gemma turned this research into a 20-page graphic novella, free to download in English and in Spanish. Although the graphic novella tells the story of a fictional family, After Maria is based on the experiences that tie together all of the Puerto Rican families to which Gemma spoke.

Guillermo Rebollo Gil, “Cosas que aprendí después del huracán.” Ahora la turba, October 11, 2017.

This reflection in prose describes, in a livid and frustrated tone, the tragic circumstances after the passing of Hurricane María. For instance, the author compares Puerto Ricans’ tendency to minimize their suffering (stating that it was way worse for others), with the hopeful messages that billboards display while everything is actually much worse. Thus, this text shows how, after hurricanes, things begin to make less and less sense.

Mayra Santos-Febres, Huracanada. Trabalis, 2018.

This poetry collection pays homage to the people who offered their help and affection to others after Hurricane María. It describes the way that Puerto Rico was forced to move forward: without aid from the federal and local governments, citizens took action and created their own solutions. Furthermore, multiple poems highlight the role that women played in these efforts.

Mayra Santos-Febres, editor, Cuentos de Huracán. Festival de la Palabra, 2018. (forthcoming)

Mayra Santos-Febres compiled and edited this short story collection, which was written in the context of darkness, disconnection, uncertainty, and boredom immediately after Hurricane María. The twenty authors included in the collection represent experiences and travails of the storm through works of fiction. While some stories reflect a positive voice of perseverance, others recount devastation.

Lucia Orsanic and Jorge Fusaro Martinez, Pa’ la posteridá: Antología sobre el paso del huracán María por Puerto Rico. Ediciones Flamboyán, 2018.

The editorial Flamboyán plans to organize an anthology that will include writers from the 78 towns and their stories related to Hurricane María. The editorial considers writing a crucial tool in the process of healing and exorcism.

Raquel Salas Rivera, Erica Mena, Ricardo Alberto Maldonado, and Carina del Valle, editors, Puerto Rico en mi corazón. Anomalous Press.

This anthology includes poetry and broadsides by contemporary Puerto Rican writers, in English and Spanish. Many of the poems address colonialism and the Island’s struggles after Hurricane María; 100% of its proceeds will be donated to a local organization.

Rima Brusi, “Lo que no contamos.“80 grados, December 15, 2017.

Exploring the harmful incognizance related to the deaths provoked by María, this column contemplates what and who get and does not get counted, as well as the meaning of counting and recounting. By not counting the dead, we are invisibilizing everyone’s stories and memories. If the government does not count the dead, as it should, it forces citizens to take charge of exposing the truth and, therefore, creating a path for Puerto Rico to heal and “rise up.”

Rosa Colón, “Hurricane Maria’s Real Toll: Nobody knows exactly how many people were killed, but it’s more than the government says.” The Nib, 5 June 2018.

This comic expresses the distress and horror felt upon hearing the news that around 4,645 deaths were provoked by Hurricane María and it’s aftermath (as estimated by Harvard University and The New England Journal of Medicine in a recent study). The narrator is indignant with the Puerto Rican government’s failure and its insistence on keeping the official death toll at 64.

Rosaura Rodríguez, Temporada. La Impresora, 2018.

This graphic novel was both written and illustrated by Rosaura Rodríguez. Using watercolors, Rodríguez depicts the experience of living in Puerto Rico after Hurricane María. Many of her illustrations are landscapes that explore the urban and rural destruction. Mostly autobiographical, Temporada shows the desperation and frustration that accompanies disaster, especially when colonial conditions prevent aid and access.

Sofía Irene Cardona, “Volver a casa.” Será otra cosa, Claridad, May 29, 2018.

This piece of prose takes the readers on a plane ride from New York to Puerto Rico, filled with people who were on that other island seeking a haven with electricity. However, they now return because they cannot abandon their people, their community. It reflects on the painful and continual goings and comings that Puerto Ricans undertake.

Xavier Valcárcel, Aterrizar no es regreso. Ediciones Alayubia, 2019.

Although Valcárcel has been primarily publishing poetry collections, he opted for prose to describe the effects of Hurricane María. In this text he narrates his own experience of moving to New York. Yet, he soon leaves behind his life in the US in order to return to a different and battered Puerto Rico. In this new reality, goings and comings acquire different meanings and goodbyes becomes more common, yet harder to endure.

Fictional Debt

Ariadna Godreau Aubert, Las Propias: Apuntes para una pedagogía de las endeudadas. Educación Emergente, 2018.

This text focuses on what it means to live as a woman on an island/ in a body battered by violence and colonialism. Las Propias is a collection of essays that discuss topics such as the debt, those in debt, the law, and human rights. The author proposes how feminists and the women who are in debt (endeudadas) can respond and fight to defend and transform Puerto Rico. These women in debt contain crucial subversive knowledge.

Christian Ibarra, “Apagar con gasolina un fuego.” 80 grados, April 4, 2014.

In this brief reflection, the author provides a critical lens on the “solutions” that are often reached in Puerto Rico. The supposed answers to the economic crisis mainly entail further exacerbating conditions of poverty: paying debt with more debt, privatizing, and firing employees. In this upside-down world, the meanings of things are manipulated (for instance, a school becomes a piece of cement) in order to benefit the few.

Francisco Font Acevedo, La troupe Samsonite. Folium, 2016.

A circus crew traverses through various locations of contemporary Puerto Rico that connote a certain poverty and precarity: the marginal urbanizations and rural regions. Through this representation of various marginalized artists who speak in the first person, this novel offers ways for Puerto Ricans to persevere and innovate. Evidently, the role that popular artforms plays in the Island’s future should not be undermined: the capacity to create fictions is crucial.

Gegman Lee and Félix Meléndez, editors. Libro de la promesa. Ediciones Alayubia, 2016.

This anthology of poetry contains various writers’ reflections on PROMESA and its effects. It is a collection about indignation.

Guillermo Rebollo Gil, Amigos en todas partes: En defensa de los agitadores. Educación Emergente, 2016.

This collection of chronicles focuses on brief, daily occurrences that happen in the small Island of Puerto Rico. Brevity emerges as a methodology through which the agitators continually resist in the face of immense precarity.

Guillermo Rebollo Gil, Writing Puerto Rico: Our Decolonial Moment. Palgrave Pivot, 2018.

This text, an autoethnography and practice in intersectionality, discusses new ways to engender radical political thought and activism that challenge PROMESA and austerity measures in Puerto Rico. The author analyzes recent art, literature, and activism to show their innovative epistemologies, which emerge even in precarious circumstances.

Julio César Pol, “A la mitad.“ 80 grados, April 22, 2018.

This brief poem discusses the effects of austerity measures: everything gets cut by half.

Omar Banuchi and Ed Morales, “A Cartoon History of Colonialism in Puerto Rico,” The Village Voice, March 19, 2018.

Puerto Rico becomes a colony of the United States with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. This is the starting point of this short comic, which provides a summarized overview of the United States’ colonial rule on the Island, including facts such as the sterilization law passed in 1937 to control overpopulation in Puerto Rico. The comic also includes tales of resistance: Albizu Campos organized strikes in the 1930s, protests against the gag laws in the 40s and 50s, and the killing of two pro-independence activists at Cerro Maravilla in 1978. The comic reaches 2017 and the imposition of the unelected Fiscal Oversight Board.

Raquel Salas-Rivera, Lo terciario/The Tertiary. Timeless Infinite Light, 2018.

This poetry collection’s title comes from El Capital, Pedro Scaron 1976 translation of Karl Marx’s Capital. Through a decolonial queer critique, the author reflects on Puerto Rico’s debt crisis, the PROMESA bill, and Marx. Balancing the political and the personal, some poems discuss the possibility of supporting Puerto Rico while being in the diaspora and the difficulty of helping family that had previously failed at being there for them.

Rima Brusi, “Entre La Bicha y la pared,” 80 grados, April 20, 2018.

At a yoga class, the narrator is irritated with a rich bitch that is next to her. The narrator considers this bitch one of “The Others:” those who are not tourists, but who come to Puerto Rico to displace locals; those who have riches but want more; those who think they do Puerto Rico a favor while they seek to evade taxes. This column reflects on gentrification, neocolonialism, and the dangers of losing land to foreigners.

Sergio Gutierrez Negron, Los días hábiles, Planeta, 2020.

Set in a shopping mall in Caguas, five friends work in an ice-cream shop and contemplate robbing the store at the end of their shift. This novel explores part-time work and the economic crisis in Puerto Rico.

Vanessa Vilches Norat, Geografías de lo perdido . Ediciones Callejón, 2018.

Each story in this collection reflects on loss in the context of urban and suburban Puerto Rico. Here we can see how the professional middle class endures the financial crisis, among other ways, through giving in further to consumerists tendencies and by considering the island an insular trap from which to escape.

Xavier Valcárcel, “América esto as apenas un poema.” 80 grados, June 3, 2016.

The speaker of this poem addresses America directly. With a tone of indignity and fury, the speaker demands that America cease its dictatorship, kill its ego, and stop taking loved ones. Struggling with the hegemony inflicted by the U.S., the speaker realizes the mistakes of celebrating the American Passport and desiring the dollar. This poem is a call to continue Puerto Rico’s history of resistance.

“Se acabaron las promesas:” Disrupting PROMESA

Ana Gabriela Calderón, “Puerto Ricans’ Struggle Against US-Imposed Austerity Heats Up,” Global Voices, September 11, 2016.

During the first scheduled conference of the Board for the Puerto Rico Oversight Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) there were clashes between the police and protesters. This protest came to fruition because groups like #SeAcabaronLasPromesas, Juventud Trabajadora-PPT, and Campamento Contra la Junta mobilized people through social media. This article describes what took place during the protest and how it drew criticism from traditional news outlets in Puerto Rico.

Jhoni Jackson, “Young Boricuas Have Been Camped Out For a Month Protesting PROMESA. Meet the Faces Behind the Movement,” Remezcla, July 27, 2016.

This opinion article details the process of formation, the organization, and the goals of the Campamento Contra la Junta (Encampment Against the Board): a group of people of all ages that have created a makeshift community with tents and furniture in front of the U.S. District Court in San Juan. The article provides background information regarding the US-Puerto Rico relations that have provoked the crisis, it discusses some of the difficulties and successes in the process of organization of the Campamento, and it clearly establishes its three main principles: (1) No to the Federal Oversight Board, (2) No to the debt, and (3) Yes to decolonization. The article includes photographs and brief descriptions of the organizers and of some of the participants.

Mario Mercado Diaz, “Puerto Ricans’ Response to the Economic Crisis Rooted in Misinformation and Frustration,” CounterPunch, August 9, 2016.

This media commentary discusses the different and often contradictory reactions of the Puerto Rican people to the imposition of the Puerto Rico Oversight Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) and its Fiscal Oversight Board. While explaining the reasons for these varied reactions, the author provides background information regarding the economic crisis experienced by the Island. Based on information gathered by means of conversations with Island Puerto Ricans, the author discusses how the people’s opinions can be explained by the relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States during the last century.

Luna Olavarría Gallegos, “Puerto Rican Activists Shut Down the First Scheduled PROMESA Conference in San Juan,” Remezcla, August 31, 2016.

This article presents the events that took place during the first scheduled conference of the Board for the Puerto Rico Oversight Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA). It reports how protesters from many groups—Campamento Contra la Junta, Jornada: Se Acabaron las Promesas, Free Oscar López, among others—were successful in shutting down the meeting. Since June, there have been ongoing protests against this measure taken by the U.S. Government. The demonstrations on this day exhibited the magnitude of the Puerto Rican people’s resistance. The article discusses some of the main events in the history of the relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States that have led to the dire economic situation suffered by the Island.

Gabriela Ortiz Díaz, “Las Victorias de la jornada: Se acabaron las Promesas,” Claridad, September 6, 2016.

The first Puerto Rico Oversight Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) Conference was held in the Condado Plaza on August 31, 2017. In this brief opinion piece, the author refers to the protest that took place during the Conference and highlights the role of women in the fight against the measures imposed by PROMESA. Another aspect discussed is the way that the battle for this cause has united different sectors of the Puerto Rican community.

Adriana De Jesús Salamán, “Mujeres lucharán en contra de la austeridad en Puerto Rico,” NotiCel, June 3, 2017

This video centers on the Feminist Assembly that took place in the Roberto Clement Coliseum on June 3, 2017. Under the lemma #NiUnaMenos (#NotEvenOneLess), many feminist organizations got together to make their demands known. The four main topics discussed were women’s issues concerning health, labor conditions, education, and violence.

Eliván Martínez Mercado, “Tanto apretar hasta que explota el paro general,” Centro de Periodismo Investigativo, April 30, 2017.

This opinion piece discusses the reasons that motivate the National Stoppage that took place in Puerto Rico on May 1st. The imposition of the Fiscal Oversight Board mobilized a variety of groups to challenge its proposed austerity measures: the syndicate, employees from the private sector, religious institutions, feminists, artists, students, farmers, etc. This protest took place with the lack of support from the Governor of Puerto Rico, who threatened protesters, saying that they will have to pay the consequences if any property is damaged, public avenues are blocked, or policemen are attacked.

Alejandra Rosa, “Las nubes del 1 de Mayo,” Diálogo, May 2, 2017.

A National Stoppage took place in Puerto Rico on May 1st, 2017. This article narrates the happenings that occurred during the event. It tells the story of how the peaceful demonstration became violent due to police intervention.

Patricia Mazzei, “Protest in Puerto Rico Over Austerity Measures Ends in Tear Gas,” New York Times, May 1, 2018.

New York Times article covers the protest in Puerto Rico aimed at la Junta’s new policy that resulted in school closings, increase in university tuition, and cuts to pensions and other government benefits, with the concern that these cuts would further diminish the already dwindling middle class. The protest, unfortunately, ended with the protestors being hit with tear gas, 13 arrested, and 15 officers injured. Governor Ricardo Roselló condemned the actions of a few protestors who threw projectiles at police officers. Nonetheless, there is an apparent disconnect between the people of Puerto Rico and the board, as la Junta’s governance over the island was granted without the consent of the governed.

Bárbara Figueroa Rosa, “La indignación del pueblo se dejó sentir en el paro nacional,” El Nuevo Día, May 1, 2018.

This article covers the protest by the Puerto Rican people against the austerity measures taken by la Junta. The protest, which took place on International Workers Day, began early in the morning at the “Golden Mile”, nearby the offices of the board. The protest included children, adults and pensioners, all voicing their displeasure of the board and the complicit government which allows the board to enact their decisions on the island’s people.

Leysa Caro González, “Human Rights Organizations Question Police Action,” El Nuevo Día, May 3, 2018. Spanish version.

This article highlights the misconduct of police officers towards some of the protestors present at the march during International Workers Day against the policies put in place by la Junta. While Police Commissioner Henry Escalera insists that the actions of la Uniformada (Puerto Rico Police Department) were justified after a protestor assaulted an officer, he could not specify what exactly happened. Charges brought against the arrested include robbery, assault, obstruction to justice, possession of controlled substances, threats, and riot. Osvaldo Burgos, president of the Board of Amnesty International in Puerto Rico, argued that the use of tear gas to control the crowd was unlawful, citing section 604, chapter 600 of the Police Reform, which prohibits the use of chemical weapons in areas where the elderly are present.

Gloria Ruiz Kuilan, Presentan un proyecto para que se consulte al pueblo la eliminación de la Junta,” El Nuevo Día, August 16, 2018.

This article discusses the bill set forth by the Puerto Rican Independence Party (Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño – PIP) that seeks to eliminate la Junta, stating that the abuse of the board annulled the power of elected officials, reinforcing the colonial state of Puerto Rico. The bill intends to echo the voice of the Puerto Rican people who are against la Junta and the colonial powers which created it.

Evelyn Dean-Olmsted and Isabel Rivera-Collazo, “From the Golden Mile to the Blacker Barrios: The Geography of Intimidation,” AAA Blog, May 16, 2018.

This article covers the May 1st protest on the Golden Mile, a place often considered to be the Wall St of Puerto Rico. This years protest, in comparison to lasts year, not only had students of UPR, but the elderly and children. The goal of this protest was to highlight the gross negligence and violation of human rights by la Junta’s new policies. The banks were the main target of the protest, as they had a hand in the growth of the island’s debt crisis. Knowing this, many banks armed themselves with the local police force to keep the protestors at bay, specifically the students from UPR at Rio Piedras. The officers employed the use of their batons, tear gas, and rubber bullets against the student protestors towards the end of the march, heading for the Rio Piedras campus. The authors note the disparity between the Golden Mile – known for its banks, shopping malls, and high rises – and Rio Piedras – a poorer, blacker, neighborhood, and the connotations of the island’s police force exercising force on a disadvantaged neighborhood and population on behalf of a more affluent community. At this point, it is important to note that despite the fact that the protestors had dispersed, the officers continued using force: throwing tear gas into the streets of Rio Piedras. Around 20 were arrested and a federal investigation was set in place to determine if the force was necessary. Nonetheless, the message was clear: the rich will do anything to reinforce the boundaries between rich and poor, light and dark, the powerful and powerless.

PRIMARY SOURCES AND MULTIMEDIA:

“Propuesta de la Colectiva Feminista en Construcción al pueblo de Puerto Rico,“ 80 Grados, May 5, 2017

Perla Rodriguez, “Las caras detrás del #CampamentoContraLaJunta,” Diálogo, July 23, 2016.

“Protests Erupt in San Juan as Obama Forms Unelected Control Board to Run Puerto Rico,” Democracy Now, September 1, 2016.

“The Puerto Rico Fiscal Board Meeting Video You Very Likely Haven’t Seen Yet” Latino Rebels October 01, 2016

Paro nacional en vídeos Primera Hora May 1, 2017

VIDEO: Teatro 220: Paro Nacional PR 2017 desde New York

Diaspora Summit: United Against Austerity

Angelo Falcón, “The Puerto Rico Crisis: A Diasporic Update,” The NiLP Report, March 15, 2015.

This report provided by the National Institute for Latino Policy (NiLP) lists a series of actions taken by different organizations and individuals in reaction to the deadline given to the U.S. Congress by House Speaker Paul Ryan to produce legislation that will aid Puerto Rico with its debt crisis, and to the approaching election period both in the US and in the Island. The events described include the following: the Puerto Rico/Puerto Ricans: A Diaspora Summit, the Caucus of Puerto Rican Elected Officials, the Vamos4PR Network’s meeting, the Hedge Clippers Group’s actions, the demonstration planned by the Call to Action for Puerto Rico group, as well as several campaigns, press conferences, and protests demanding action and pressuring the government. The report also lists the most serious challenges faced by Puerto Rico due to its debt and its colonial status. Among these are the need to familiarize the American public with Puerto Rico’s issues, the urgency to develop a coherent and coordinated strategy to affect the presidential campaign, the importance of enabling stateside Puerto Ricans to play a role in the proposal and advancement of solutions.

Susanne Ramírez de Arellano, “Island, Mainland Puerto Ricans Gather to Draft Plan of Action,” NBC News, April 25, 2016.

This article reports on the discussions held by the participants of the Puerto Rico Diaspora Summit, a conference organized on April 22, 2016 by Edwin Meléndez, Director of the Center of Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College. The meeting’s main purpose was to underline the need for dialogue between the Puerto Ricans of the Island and those in the Diaspora to find the best solutions to the economic and humanitarian crises faced by the Island. Well known academics and politicians analyzed the causes of the situation and offered viable alternatives for its resolution. They agreed on the need for Island and Mainland Puerto Ricans to work in unison and to take advantage of the pre-election period to pressure the US government to act on behalf of Puerto Rico.

Gabriela Sierra Alonso, “Puerto Rico Puerto Ricans: Diaspora Summit Unites Puerto Ricans to Face Crisis As One,” Centro Voces (2016).

This article summarizes the events that took place during a conference organized by Hunter College’s Center for Puerto Rican Studies held on April 22 and 23, 2016. The first session informed the audience about the economic crisis affecting the Island, and the second sessions discussed tentative approaches and solutions. The conference participants highlighted the magnitude of the crisis, the dire situation of Puerto Rico due to its political status, and the dangers of PROMESA, a congressional bill that would force extreme austerity cuts that would provoke a humanitarian crisis. They called for unity between inland and stateside Puerto Ricans and emphasized the privileged political power of the Diaspora to pressure the U.S. government for positive solutions, given that PROMESA is still a work in progress.

José A. Delgado, “The diaspora advocates for debt relief,” El Nuevo Día, May 13, 2017.

This article highlights the main points presented at the Diaspora Summit II of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies held at Hunter College and attended by representatives from a hundred Puerto Rican organizations. The two main goals of the conference were to demand an audit of Puerto Rico’s debt and to pressure for a substantial reduction of its principal. The conference attendees emphasized the need for a realistic payment plan that would allow Puerto Rico’s economy to grow. They also agreed that the Fiscal Oversight Board’s plan will bring an era of harsh cutbacks in government spending, which will, in turn, lead to a contraction in the economy. Other topics discussed at the conference were the disparity in the austerity’s distribution, Puerto Rico’s lack of control over its own economy, the lack of parity between the US and Puerto Rico regarding Medicaid funds, and the need to defend workers’ pensions when dealing with the debt.

PRIMARY SOURCES AND MULTIMEDIA:

Diaspora Summit Website (view schedule and video of events)

“No es luto, es resistencia:” Artists Respond

Ivette Feliciano, “‘I will fight for my island’ — Puerto Rican artists on territory’s future,” PBS Newshour, March 18, 2017.

In order to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Jones Act (a law that, in 1917, granted Puerto Ricans US citizenship), an exhibit was held at the Clemente Soto Velez Cultural and Educational Center titled “CitiCien.” The artistic collective “Defend Puerto Rico” curated the exhibit which was composed of 100 artists’ installations where they reflected on the Puerto Rico-U.S. relationship. The article discusses this exhibit, but it also describes what it means to remember the Jones Act in light of recent events, in which Puerto Ricans’ status as second-class citizens has become more and more apparent.

Odalis Garcia, Giovanni Cortez, and Eva Scazzero, “¿Y Ahora Que? — Artists respond to the economic crisis in Puerto Rico,” Medium, December 11, 2016.

The authors of this article interviewed a wide variety of artists—multimedia curators, a poet, a photographer and a DJ—who are using their craft as a way to bring attention to Puerto Rico’s debt and PROMESA, which was signed into law in order to handle the crisis. The article describes each participant’s point of view and method. For example, Defend Puerto Rico, a group of multimedia curators, explain that they want to evoke empathy in viewers and demonstrate Puerto Rico’s flourishing culture in order to bring pride back to Puerto Ricans. Similarly, DJ Bembona seeks to empower people on the dance floor while highlighting voices that are not being heard in other clubs in NYC.

Max Haiven, “Black Flags and Debt Resistance in America’s Oldest Colony,” Roar, August 2, 2016.

Even though Santurce is characterized by street art that is vibrant and colorful, a new aesthetic is appearing on the streets. An austere, calligraphy and pallet has become a symbol of resistance for Puerto Rican artists who seek to challenge austerity measures and the Island’s lack of sovereignty: there are depictions of black and white flags, symbols, and messages. The article provides a description of Puerto Rico’s colonial history in order to contextualize the current artist efforts that use black paint to call attention to the lethal financial sabotage of the country.

Jhnoni Jackson, “Powerful Photo Series ‘Puerto Ricans Underwater’ is a Biting Metaphor For an Island Drowning in Debt,” Remezcla, November 28, 2016.

This article discusses Adál Maldonado’s photography series, Puerto Ricans Underwater. This project depicts Puerto Ricans of varying ages, lifestyles, and occupations submerged in a bathtub. These images of people confined in a small space and unable to breathe provokes a visceral alarm in the spectator. Maldonado, who is interviewed, describes what this work means to him: it reflects the loss of control and impotency that Puerto Ricans experience when the Federal Government imposes its own agenda on the Island.

Raquel Reichard, “How Puerto Rican Artist Lester Rey is Fighting PROMESA through Music,” Latina, November 28, 2016.

Lester Rey is a Chicago-based artist that created a mixtape entitled “Promesa,” which reveals unsettling facts about policies that the United States has imposed on Puerto Rico. However, the mixtape’s eclectic rhythms seek to provide a way of healing. This article includes an interview that was conducted where the artist describes his motivation for producing “Promesa,” the meaning behind particular songs, the move towards solidarity with Latinx people and people of color that the mixtape contains, how music can be a form of activism, among other topics.

Andrew S. Vargas “All-Female Puerto Rican Art Collective Moriviví Recreated Controversial “Puerta de La Bandera” Protest Art in NYC” Remezcla, July 26, 2016.

This article describes the artistic efforts of the female Puerto Rican artist collective, Moriviví. In order to reflect on the parallel struggles of Puerto Rico and the United Sates, these artists created a series of collaborative murals in New York City. The murals, placed in different areas, depict different images: black bodies, powerful stares, and a recreation of Old San Juan’s Puerta de la Bandera, donning its black and white flag. These artists not only want to give visibility to Puerto Ricans’ struggle, but also to create a dialogue between the Island and the diaspora.

Marlena Fitzpatrick “Miguel Luciano Cycles through Puerto Rico’s Colonial History in ‘Ride or Die‘” Enclave March 2, 2017.

Miguel Luciano’s exhibition entitled “Ride or Die” explores the colonial relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States through sculptures that are comprised of vintage Schwinn bicycles. The bicycles not only commemorate the tradition of Puerto Rican bike clubs in New York, but also represent important moments of Puerto Rican history and politics through each one’s specific year and color. These associations serve to comment on the island’s economic crisis and its impact on the diaspora.

Jessica Ríos Viner, “La ‘Resistencia boricua’ llega al Desfile Puertorriqueño en Nueva York,” El Nuevo Día, June 8, 2017.

La Marqueta Retoña, in New York, hosted a photography exhibition titled “Resistencia Boricua.” These photographs depict manifestations that have been taking place on the Island. As one of the cultural advocates of La Marqueta Retoña explains, this exhibition does not merely have an artistic value, it also serves to inform the community on the mainland of exactly what has been happening in Puerto Rico. As this article elucidates, thus project emerged, in part, to challenge the media’s and companies’ controversy about the support of Oscar López Rivera as the honored figure of the Puerto Rican Day parade.

PRIMARY SOURCES AND MULTIMEDIA:

Joseph Rodriguez, “Turning Puerto Rico’s Lament into Hope,” New York Times, August 21, 2015.

Edwin J. Torres, “Portraits of Resilience: Puerto Rican millennials face economic meltdown with a spirit of pa’lante,” The Ground Truth Project, March 1, 2016.

Colectivo La Puerta, “Un llamado a la solidaridad” (artist’s statement) July 7, 2016

Transferencias electrónicas (un Poemario gratuito a la medida de la crisis)

“La UPR no se vende, se defiende:” The Battle for the University of Puerto Rico

Frances Robles, “Puerto Rico’s University Is Paralyzed by Protests and Facing Huge Cuts,” New York Times, May 25, 2017.

This article discusses how Puerto Rico’s financial crisis is threatening its public university: 90% of its funding depends on the central government and the Fiscal Oversight Board suggests reducing the university’s budget by half. Even though the university proposed a plan that phases in more modest cuts, this plan was rejected by the Board. Both the University’s administration and the students agree that the cuts are too severe. The latter had been enduring a two month strike to protest these proposals, however, the article points out that there are groups of students that are fighting for the university to reopen.

Juan C. Dávila, “Students Of Puerto Rico Lead Resistance Against PROMESA,” Huffington Post, April 9, 2017.

On April 5 students of the University of Puerto gathered at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum where they discussed strategies and solutions to the austerity measures that the Fiscal Control Board plans to impose, primarily, the reduction of one-third of the University’s budget. This article discusses the demands upon which the students decided during this gathering, such as the need of a university reform that would represent all sectors from the university community, and zero budget cuts to the University of Puerto Rico. Yet, the students’ claims are not limited to the University, they also prioritize the need for an audit and a moratorium of the debt.

José Laguarta, “Pensar la huelga,” 80 Grados, April 7, 2017.

In this opinion piece, the author discusses how the students’ vote in favor of the strike has been criticized by society. In particular, he focuses on “well-intentioned” arguments. The first consists of the critique that one should not strike if the patron, the university, does not have enough resources to meet the students’ demands. The second, related to the first, is the idea that to close the university (through a strike) actually fulfills the desire of the government and the Fiscal Control Board and will lead to the permanent closing of the University. The author demonstrates that these critiques may seem sensible, but are, in fact, incorrect.

José Caraballo Cueto “UPR: mitos y realidades,” 80 Grados, April 7, 2017.

This article elucidates the reality or falsity of a series of “myths” about the University of Puerto Rico and its relation to the debt crisis. For example, the author explains that the budget of health services will not be directly affected if there are no cuts to the University of Puerto Rico’s budget. Instead, as it should be according to the fiscal plan, the majority of the budget cuts could be applied to the private sector. Other concerns that the article discusses are related to how the UPR is spending its money and whether the strikes have economic consequences.

Ed Morales “Students Are Now Leading the Resistance to Austerity in Puerto Rico” The Nation, April 27, 2017.

On April 18th 2017, many, including the group Citizen Front for Auditing the Debt, gathered in front of Puerto Rico’s capitol building to protest against the passage of a bill that would eliminate the government funded Debt Audit Commission. Among the many concerns of these protestors is the fact that a large portion of the debt is illegal because it involved either “extra-constitutional” debt-saddled with predatory interest rates or “toxic” interest-rate swaps. The Citizen Front hopes to initiate a “citizen’s participatory audit.” The article provides general information about the debt crisis and the University of Puerto Rico, and compares this student strike with the one in 2010, explaining that this one connects the threat to the University to the general issue of austerity measures imposed by the Fiscal Control Board.

Francisco J. Fortuño Bernier, “Cerrar para abrir:” Puerto Rican Student Struggles and the Crisis of Colonial-Capitalism,” Viewpoint Magazine, April 27, 2017.

Analyzing the University of Puerto Rico’s student-led stoppage, one can see that the student movement did not limit its goals and interests to the crisis of public education, but, instead, made the university the locus where broader political struggles against neoliberal austerity and national debt-servitude can take place. For instance, the strike’s resolution states not only that it is in opposition to the budget cuts to the university, but also demands that the debt be audited and a moratorium on debt payments be declared. This in-depth article connects the student’s conscious insertion into the wide political field of struggle to the Island’s long history of student activism.

José Karlo Pagán Negrón, “Huelga 2017: 72 días en defensa de la UPR,” Diálogo UPR, June 8, 2017.

In the aftermath of the student strike, this article reflects on the new struggles the University of Puerto Rico faces. For instance, the interim president and the dean resigned and the university may not continue to function with the impending budget cuts. As the author explains, whether the results of the strike were positive or negative is a question of perspective: some see it as a waste of time, other consider it a fruitful time of reflection. This article includes a video that recounts the processes and circumstances of the strike.

José Karlo Pagán Negrón, “Se acabó la huelga en la UPR de Río Piedras,” Diálogo UPR, June 5, 2017.

The decision to end the University of Puerto Rico’s strike was made during a student assembly that was attended by 2,119 students from the Río Piedras campus. This decision was made after the Governor decided to add $202 million dollars to previous cuts from the University’s budget in the next fiscal year. This article discusses the negotiations and compromises that the student body undertook in order to try to achieve their demands which included zero tuition hikes and an audit of the public debt.

“Cara a cara estudiantes de UPR y Junta de Control Fiscal,” Diálogo, March 28, 2018.

The fact that they were only granted four seats by la Junta, UPR student leaders met with the board to question the magnitude of the cut to the budget of UPR. The students seek to mitigate the damage set forth by the budget cuts, access data that the board uses to develop new proposals, and that meetings between students and the board continue. The students also questioned the increase in the costs of tuition for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students.

Joanisabel González, “El dilema de endeudarse para aprender,” El Nuevo Día, August 12, 2018.

This article analyses the increase in student loans in Puerto Rico due to the increase in tuition and the cost of living. Fiscal year 2017 saw the highest amount of student loans in a decade, with loans registered with Sallie Mae totalling $478.5 million. This, coupled with la Junta’s plan to increase tuition costs, will only result in the volume of student loan increasing exponentially as more students rely on the assistance to attend school. The stress of paying off student loans is only exacerbated by the shaky job market and the potential of defaulting on your loans.

Héctor J. Huyke, “Golpe a una generación intelectual,” El Nuevo Día, August 7, 2018.

This article discusses the gutting of UPR by la Junta and what that means to the students and staff. Huyke highlights the freezing of teaching positions as they become vacant and the hiring of temporary staff to cover the needs. The gutting has resulted in higher cost of education, fewer educators available to teach, and both students and teachers who look for employment outside of the university to make ends meet. The author commends the students who are learning in a new environment that is unlike his, where the classwork and costs are greater, while the prospects of a job after college are lower.

Luis A. López Díaz, “La universidad que nos dejará el plan fiscal de la UPR,” UPR Diálogo, March 27, 2018.

This article outlines the changes and implications set forth by the new budget plan created by la Junta in regards to UPR. The university will see the consolidation of many offices and the cutting of temporary staff. This change does not take into account how the quality of the education will change. Teachers that remain will see an increase in workload, leaving little time for research and professional development. In total, 72 undergraduate programs will be discontinued as a result of the new plan. The results of this new plan will be detrimental to not only the students attending the university, but the employees of the university, and the community that it serves.

STATEMENTS OF SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT:

“In Solidarity with the UPR Student Movement,” 80 Grados, April 6, 2017.

“Letter from Rutgers Faculty, Alumni, Staff, and Students in Solidarity of the UPR Student Movement” (2017).

PAReS, “Defendamos la universidad pública,” April 22, 2017.

Rita Perez-Padilla, Mobey Irizarry Lambright, and Andrés González “Oberlin Stands in Solidarity with University of Puerto Rico” Oberlin Review May 5, 2017

Puerto Rican Faculty in the Diaspora, “Open Letter In Solidarity with the University of Puerto Rico,” 80 Grados, April 30, 2017.

FURTHER READING:

María de Lourdes Vaello Calderón, “Una lucha por la Universidad y el País,” El Nuevo Día, April 1, 2017.

“Universidad de Puerto Rico es también un motor de la economía y el bienestar social” 80 grados, April 14, 2017

Jeffrey Herlihy-Mera, “Weaponizing Accreditation,” Jacobin, May 24, 2017.

Nydia Bauzá, ”Profesor Fernando Picó hace llamado a continuar el diálogo,” Primera Hora, May 8, 2017.José Encarnación, “Huelga UPR: ¿por qué finalizó y hacia dónde va la lucha estudiantil?,” Diálogo UPR, June 11, 2017.

Benjamin Torres Gotay “La Universidad del Norte” El Nuevo Dia May 28, 2017

(For comprehensive coverage of the 2017 UPR strike against austerity see Pulso Estudiantil, a student run news collective.)

#AuditoríaYa!: The Fight to Audit the Debt

Noticel. “Nace campaña educativa sobre la deuda caribeña,” NotiCel, September 20, 2019.

This article announces the launch of the new educational campaign, “Haití y Puerto Rico: Deuda y Reparaciones,” organized by the Red Jubileo Sur Américas, the Frente Ciudadano por la Auditoría de la Deuda, among others. The campaign launch in Puerto Rico brings together representatives from different activist organizations across the Caribbean to raise public consciousness about the harms caused by debt in Haiti and Puerto Rico and to reflect on the question of Caribbean debt reparations.

Kate Aronoff and Alleen Brown. “Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez Call for Reversal of Puerto Rico Austerity Measures.” The Intercept, September 23, 2019.

Progressive Democrats renewed their interest in scrutinizing the Control Board in the wake of the summer 2019 mobilizations in Puerto Rico. This article discusses the letter that 13 members of Congress sent to the Control Board, calling for the Board to reverse imposed austerity measures and demanding full disclosure of Board members’ conflicts of interest. The article also reviews government and citizen proposals to cancel and/or audit the debt.

Camille Alexandra Padilla Dalmau. “Caribbean Activists Call for Regional Unity and Debt Reparations.” Latino Rebels, September 23, 2019.

This article reviews the San Juan launch of the “Haití y Puerto Rico: Deuda y Reparaciones” campaign and discusses how different kinds of debt (historical, social, ecological, and human rights) link Caribbean societies through colonial roots and present-day neoliberal manifestations. The article suggests the potential for debt as a political mechanism of building regional solidarity and a movement to demand reparations.

Luis José Torres Asencio. “La Junta Nunca Auditó la Deuda.” El Nuevo Diá, September 25, 2019.

The author critiques an Op-Ed by Control Board member David Skeel where Skeel dismisses renewed calls for an audit of Puerto Rico’s debt and argues that the debt has in fact already been audited by the firm Kobre and Kim. Torres Asencio writes that the Kobre and Kim report is not an audit because it does not comply with the characteristics of an internal audit that debt activists have been demanding, nor does it hold individuals or institutions accountable for the process of indenting. Rather than being in the hands of the federal or local governments, the author argues that people must carry out the internal audit.

Carla M. Pérez Meléndez, “Encuesta revela apoyo a la auditoría de la deuda,” Diálogo, April 4, 2017.

This article describes a survey conducted by a national campaign called Trayecto Dignidad 4 that concerns itself with education, raising awareness, investigation and action related to human rights and civil liberties. The survey sought to discover citizens’ perceptions on various issues related to the auditing of the debt and the Fiscal Control Board. For instance, it found that the majority of people interviewed are in favor of auditing the debt and oppose the budget cuts proposed by the Fiscal Control Board.

“Inicia jornada de acciones ciudadanas por la auditoría de la deuda,” 80 Grados, April 17, 2017.

The House of Representatives discussed a bill, PC 785, which sought to eliminate the Commission designed to audit the debt. This article discusses the mobilization initiated by the Frente Ciudadano por la Auditoría de la Deuda in order to challenge PC 785. This group organized various initiatives: a campaign encouraging people to call their representatives, a concentration in front of the Capital Building, and a march in favor of the debt audit and in defense of public education.

Leysa Caro González, “Aprueban a viva voz derogar comisión que examinaría la deuda pública,” El Nuevo Dia, April 18, 2017.

As the House of Representatives discussed the bill PC 785, the members of the Frente Ciudadano para la Auditoría de la Deuda and their supporters manifested in front of the Capitol Building. This article discusses the confrontations between the police and the protestors, who were not allowed to enter during the House’s discussion and vote. Eventually, the bill was approved, with 32 votes in favor and 14 against.

“La auditoría va, ¡pero ciudadana!” 80 Grados, April 20, 2017.

Even though the Commission for the Integral Audit of the Public Credit was eliminated, the Frente Ciudadano por la Auditoría de la Deuda will continue to fight for an audit of the debt. This article discusses the group’s initiative to do a citizen-led audit. They propose that this audit be integral and not merely financial. This includes examining and evaluating the process of recruitment, of refinancing, and of renegotiation of 40 years of the emissions of the public debt, the origin and destiny of resources, the execution of the programs and projects that were financed with external or internal debt, among other aspects.

Carlos Esteban Cana, “Puerto Ricans Hold a ‘Vigil for Light and Truth’ to Demand an Audit of Public Debt,” Global Voices, April 20, 2017.

This article informs about the objectives and results of the vigil called by two groups: the Citizen Front for the Audit of the Debt and the Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Coalition of Puerto Rico. Among their main claims are the need to audit the debt without delay and the creation of a Fiscal Responsibility Law instead of the Financial Control Board. It includes photographs of the event, which took place on April 3, 2017.

Sadot Santana Miranda, “Choque durante protesta en reclamo por auditoría de la deuda,” Diálogo, April 19, 2017.

On April 18, 2017, a manifestation was held in front of the Capitol by the Citizens Front for the Audit of the Debt, in reaction to the approval of the Senate’s Project number 428 (House’s Project number 785) which derogates the law that created the Comisión de Auditoría Integral del Crédito Público, whose main purpose was to serve as an independent investigator of the public debt of Puerto Rico’s government. The participants were confronted by the police, who tried to control the event by pushing them back and spraying them with tear gas. Specifically, the Police refused to allow the protesters’ representatives to exercise their citizens’ right and enter the Capitol to express their disapproval of the Project during the legislative session.

José A. Delgado, “Calls to audit debt made,” El Nuevo Día, May 3, 2017.

Democrats of the House call for the audit of Puerto Rico’s debt. They also demand that the Oversight Board end the use of the legal bankruptcy mechanism and that Ricardo Rosselló’s government stop cutting workers’ benefits. According to those present, the audit is necessary given the suspicion of possible violations of the federal securities’ law and conflict of interest. Luis Gutiérrez and Nydia Velázquez call for the application of Tittle III, which would allow debt restructuring. It was pointed out that originally PROMESA allowed for the restructuring of 100% of the public debt. Moreover, there is fear that new allocations in Medicaid Funds will be used by the Oversight Board to increase payment to the creditors.

Luis J. Valentín Ortiz, “Retrasada la auditoría de la Junta, mientras coge impulso la negociación de la deuda,” 80 grados, June 12, 2018.

This article discusses Puerto Rico’s insurmountable debt and the players who are currently investigating its existence. Despite parts of the debt being declared illegal by the Commision for the Comprehensive Audit of Public Credit, la Junta insists they are the only entity who can determine what parts of the debt are illegal. However, la Junta, and the researcher hired to audit the debt, left out important internal documents which played a role in the debt issues. The Committee of Unsecured Creditors (UCC) is aiming its sights at three separate financial institutions: The Government Development Bank (GDB), Banco Popular, and Banco Santander. While Banco Popular and Banco Santander has complied with the request of the UCC, the GDB has kept most of their information from the UCC, choosing to share it with la Junta under strict confidentiality. The Citizen Front for the Debt Audit denounces that the debt was contracted legally. They seek to know how much the debt truly is, what all the money was spent on, and if it was legal. Above all, they question the integrity of current auditors and where their interest lie. Each entity has their own objective, with la Junta seaking to identify ways in which the government of Puerto Rico can ask the federal court to declare all of the debt. The UCC seeks to find who is liable for payment, while the Citizen Front questions the validity of the debt.

Hedge Clippers, “The Golden Revolving Door,” HedgePapers No. 61, August 21, 2018.

This article warns of the possible consequences of restructuring Puerto Rico’s debt, naimly, how it could benefit bankers and could prevent Puerto Rico from holding them accountable. In fact, credit unions (who invested in the debt early on) and municipalities would be required to pay back the debt. This is due to the debt being restructured behind closed doors with very little information provided to the public. Once the restructuring is agreed upon, parts of the agreement will take effect, preventing the creators of the debt from being held accountable.

Melissa Correa Velázquez, “Protesta en reclamo de la auditoría de la deuda pública,” El Vocero, July 25, 2018.

This article discusses the demands of the Citizens Front for the Audit of the Debt as they protested the Federal Court hearing on the PROMESA law. This group asks government representatives to make all of the documents concerned with the debt available to the public. They argue that they should not blindly pay a debt; and at the very least, be provided with the details. The group states that 50% of the debt could be in direct violation of the Constitution of Puerto Rico, and that many of the creditors who own the debt bought the bonds at a low cost, but demand on full payment for a 1,900% profit. These profits would come at the expense of essential government services. A comprehensive audit would help prevent the abuse of the Puerto Rican people by creditors.

Luis José Torres Asencio, “La auditoría, el derecho a saber y las políticas del dolor,” 80 grados, July 13, 2018.

This article discusses the documents gathered by the firm Kobre & Kim, LLP and how they were made public. These 200,000 documents, some provided by government entities, others by financial entities, include interviews, memorandums, and reports. These documents were used during the hearing on July 25th, 2018 discussing the validity of the public debt. Torres Asencio argues that the debt is the product of US colonialism, and the economic limits placed on the island by the US government. These limits, and the debt it created, were all done at the expense of the Puerto Rican people, costing them their housing, health, education, and more.

Joanisabel González, “Publican reporte sobre la investigación de la deuda,” El Nuevo Día, August 20, 2018.

This article touches on the findings by Kobre & Kim of Puerto Rico’s debt and the reason for the island’s financial collapse. The findings, which were commissioned by the Special Investigation committee of la Junta, are a result of a 10 month investigation which evaluated evidence from countless sources and documents. Gonzalez provides access to the 608-page report.

Javier Colón Dávila, “Juez se reserva fallo en petición hecha para ver documentos de la deuda del país,” El Nuevo Día, August 24, 2018.

This article disucsses Judge Anthony Cuevas’ decision to reserver his ruling on the petition filed by the Citizen Commission for Debt Audit. With the petition, the Citizen Commission seeks to compel the Government Development Bank, Cofina, and the Financial Advisory Authority and Fiscal Agency of Puerto Rico to produce all documents related to the countries debt and make them accessible to all Puerto Ricans.

Video: Julio Rivera Saniel. “Realizan Asamblea para Retomar Agenda de la Auditoría de la Deuda.” September 2019.

This video summarizes the Frente Ciudadano por la Auditoría de la Deuda’s first people’s assembly on August 31, 2019, where over 200 people gathered to inform themselves about the citizen audit, share proposals, and deliberate about the next steps.

FURTHER READING:

Comisión para la Auditoría Integral del Crédito Público, “Pre-Audit Survey Report” (2016).

Comisión para la Auditoría Integral del Crédito Público, “Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority: Power Revenue Bonds, Series 2013A” (2016)

Katefrans Flores Sanabria, “Razones por las que no se audita la deuda pública,” Índice, April 19, 2017.

Velázquez, Nydia M., “OPINION: Puerto Rico’s debt must be audited now,” The Hill, June 7, 2017.

VIDEO: “Puerto Rico: En Busca de la Verdad,” Frente Ciudadano por la Auditoría de la Deuda, March 7, 2017.

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