Protesters Shut Down San Juan Highway to Call for Resignation of Puerto Rico Governor
“Tens of thousands” of people marched through the streets of San Juan on Monday, July 22, to call for the resignation of Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello, El Nuevo Dia reported.
Protesters have been calling for Rossello to resign following the release of 889 pages of private Telegram chats.
The chats, between Rossello and 11 top aides and cabinet members, contained homophobic and misogynistic messages and were revealed amid a corruption scandal. Puerto Rico’s Center for Investigative Journalism alleged on Wednesday that a “multi-million-dollar corruption network” flourished with Rossello’s knowledge and involved some of his closest aides.
Monday’s march was described by local media as “the main event” of an ongoing protest spanning more than a week.
This video shows protesters gathering on the Las Americas highway in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as they wave Puerto Rican flags and cheer as music plays. The video shows some protesters holding signs that spell “Ricky Renuncia,” which translates to “Ricky resign.”
The protests come on the heels of Rossello’s Sunday announcement that he would step down as head of the New Progressive Party and would not seek re-election in 2020.
Other protests calling for Rossello’s resignation were scheduled in cities including Madrid, Spain; Orlando, Florida; and New York City, El Nuevo Dia reported. Credit: Alexis Santos via Storyful
