'Ricky Renuncia': Puerto Ricans Rally for Resignation of Governor
“Tens of thousands” of people took to the streets throughout Puerto Rico on Monday, July 22, to call for the resignation of 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.
This video shows protesters walking along the Eugenio María de Hostos Avenue in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, as music plays and people chant. The video shows “Ricky renuncia ya” – a call for Rossello’s resignation – painted in white letters on the street.
Masses of people also gathered on the Las Americas highway in Puerto Rico’s capital, San Juan, to protest against Rossello on Monday.
Monday’s march in San Juan was described by local media as “the main event” of ongoing protests spanning more than a week.
The protests came 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: Neftali Carrero via Storyful
