There’s some big goings-on in Puerto Rico today that don’t seem to be getting much press coverage — big as in hundreds of thousands of people marching against the government, and possibly being threatened with charges of terrorism as a result.
It starts with Puerto Rico’s faltering economy — a $3.2 billion deficit and an unemployment rate of 15 percent as of last month. That’s higher than any U.S. state. More than 20,000 public employees have been laid off and the government announced last month nearly 17,000 additional layoffs of public employees. That includes teachers, social workers and health care workers, among others. The latest firings are effective Nov. 6.
So today, according to SEIU, “hundreds of thousands of Puerto Rican workers, faith leaders, students and citizens” are taking part today in a protest march against “massive cuts in essential public services.” There could be severe consequences for doing so.
According to the local Daily Sun, the government of Gov. Luis Fortuno has threatened protesters with charges of terrorism.
Earlier this week, Justice Secretary Antonio SagardÃa and Police Superintendent José Figueroa Sancha warned organizers of the Oct. 15 general work stoppage that they could be charged with engaging in terrorism if they block access to ports or the airport, because they would be interfering with interstate commerce. In a radio interview Wednesday, Gov. Fortuño also described such actions as terrorism.
We’ll be watching throughout the day to see what — if any — action the Puerto Rican government takes against the protesters — and whether there are really hundreds of thousands who show up for the march.
Two SEIU staffers on the ground are updating their Flickr page here. And there’s live (though spotty, at last check) video from the protest here.
