| Submit your comments on this article |
| Home Front: Politix |
| Puerto Ricans Protest Against FBI |
| 2006-02-27 |
| More than 1,000 demonstrators chanting anti-FBI slogans and carrying Puerto Rican flags marched through the capital of this U.S. island territory on Sunday. Demonstrators chanted "Respect Puerto Rico!" and "FBI get out!" Many of the marchers favor independence for the island and accuse the FBI of persecuting the movement. They also accuse the FBI of letting Filiberto Ojeda Rios — the fugitive leader of a pro-independence militant group — bleed to death during an FBI raid in September. Federal agents have said they shot Ojeda Rios after he fired on them, but his widow said the FBI fired first. Ojeda Rios was wanted for the 1983 robbery of a Wells Fargo armored truck depot. Marchers Sunday later accused an onlooker of being a federal agent. Confronting the man, demonstrators began shouting "murderer, murderer." After several minutes the man fled in an automobile and protesters banged on the car windows, cracking the glass, witnesses said. Many of the marchers said the man had been taking photographs of the demonstration. Several witnesses said the man had been carrying a firearm. More at the link. |
| Posted by:Seafarious |
| #20 6--it's been more than 30 years since anyone got drafted. No, they don't have to serve in the military and neither does anyone else. Volunteers, right? Second, for Rafael, CS doesn't represent California and plenty of Californians will be quick to tell you that. When the idiots on Vieques did their protesting I don't remember hearing anything from anyone else in PR except loud agreement. If there were any patriotic PRs against those jerks, they were damned quiet about it. |
| Posted by: mac 2006-02-27 18:15 |
| #19 I'm sorry but you're getting your dander up about 1,000 demonstrators when you have a far greater problem in the 48 contiguous states. Might as well ask every major urban center to separate. |
| Posted by: Rafael 2006-02-27 18:00 |
| #18 where did the idiots protesting the Navy's use of that range come from? Cindy Sheehan's hometown? |
| Posted by: Rafael 2006-02-27 17:56 |
| #17 Just checked Puerto Rico of course is included in the draft. |
| Posted by: 6 2006-02-27 17:49 |
| #16 they don't have to serve in the military Really? There was no draft in Puerto Rico? |
| Posted by: 6 2006-02-27 17:46 |
| #15 Let me point out again that the protestors called "pro-independence" in that article and others are the Macheteros. They're Communists. Newspapers can't seem to bring themselves to print the "C" word these days. The last referendum I'm aware of the vote was something like 48% for statehood, 48% for status quo and 2% for "independence". On Vieques, the Viequenses are happy the Navy stopped bombing, and tourism there is way up, but the majority of Big Islanders are pissed that a few pinko radicals and Hollyhood types killed the cash cow that was Rosey Roads. If you'd like to vist a beautiful part of PR off the beaten path I can recommend Nelson's Country Home. Nelson's a Marine and was serving in Bosnia when we were there a couple of years ago. Support our troops by renting their vacation properties! |
| Posted by: Parabellum 2006-02-27 17:33 |
| #14 No one on this thread has addressed Vieques yet except me. If PR is so patriotic, where did the idiots protesting the Navy's use of that range come from? Who elected the idiot now governor of PR who supported the idiots against Vieques? Sorry, guys, I know how much the Navy wanted to keep Vieques. It hurt bad when they lost it. They closed down Roosevelt Roads simply to spite PR for having been such a bunch of damned jerks. We don't ask them to pay taxes, they don't have to serve in the military, and they live off the fat of the U.S. taxpayer. If they couldn't even muster enough patriotism to let a gunnery range that will NEVER be cleaned up enough for any other purpose continue to be used, to hell with them. Kick them out from underneath Uncle Sam's umbrella and let them see how they like being independent. We'll be better off without them. If any good ones want to immigrate after that, maybe we'll consider it. They can get in line behind the Filipinos. |
| Posted by: mac 2006-02-27 16:57 |
| #13 I have nothing agaisn't PR, but if they are our countrymen then they should ask to be a state, I am sorry I pay frderal taxes and if they want all the good things so should they. |
| Posted by: djohn66 2006-02-27 16:40 |
| #12 It is pretty clear we are going to admit no new states. I believe this is a bad thing. Would we be better off adding territory and citizens via PR style relationships or having them be independent countries? Cuba? Alberta? Northern Mexico? I think we should be looking at ways to draw more of the world's people closer to us. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-02-27 14:00 |
| #11 I've worked with several PR physicians in my life. Damned good and damned decent people, every one. PR can remain a commonwealth if it wants -- why should I care? Puerto Ricans consider themselves American, and that's good enough for me. They serve in our armed forces, they work hard, and they are NOT welfare layabouts. Criminy, people, these folks are our countrymen. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2006-02-27 13:47 |
| #10 +1 to Al and Deacon. The Puerto Ricans I have known during my time in PR are fiercely proud to be Americans (born as citizens...they get justifiable upset when mainlanders don't realize that). All of the friends I have living there are U.S. army veterans as well. The 'Independence' movement was getting some press the last time I was in PR as well. But ask yourself this...does the AP want to write stories about the 99% of Puerto Ricans that want remain Americans? Or do they want to write about the 1% that doesn't? Yes, PR should have to choose to become the 51st state or independence. But if you never had to pay a federal income tax where you live, would you want to start now? Now, if you find yourself in PR in the future and see a group of Puerto Ricans with Big Orange T's on the front of their baseball caps, buy 'em a glass of Gentleman Jack and tell 'em the Psycho Hillbilly says hello. |
| Posted by: psychohillbilly 2006-02-27 13:41 |
| #9 Yep. Statehood or independence. Choose, otherwise Americans should force independence. That also goes for other territories (e.g. Guam). Combine with Hawaii or go independent. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-02-27 12:56 |
| #8 I do think the Puerto Ricans need to decide just what it is they want. Why should they? They've got the best of both worlds. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-02-27 12:26 |
| #7 I agree with AL. I work with Puerto Ricans and I was married to one. Good decent people. The first time I went into New England very few people would believe I wasn't and never had been a member of the Ku Klux Klan. Their impression was EVERYONE from Alabama or the deep South was a member when the reality was the Klansmen were a very small fraction of the citizens. This is just a bunch of fringe nutjobs. Having said that, I do think the Puerto Ricans need to decide just what it is they want. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2006-02-27 12:14 |
| #6 Then PR should become a state then, it should choose state or independance. |
| Posted by: djohn66 2006-02-27 12:05 |
| #5 Please don't call these idiots "Puerto Ricans" as if they represent all Puerto Ricans. There are more more Puerto Ricans serving in Iraq today than there were demonstrators at that rally. These people are as representative of youraverage Puerto Rican as Code Pink is of your average American. In the 20+ years I lived there, I never saw the Independence movement get more than 6% of the vote. Al |
| Posted by: Frozen Al 2006-02-27 11:19 |
| #4 Since the Puerto Ricans won't vote for independence, how about an American referendum to force independence. Let's get that on the California ballot pronto and give my regards to Hugo. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-02-27 09:10 |
| #3 I agree. We need PR like we need more Muslims in America. Both groups bring little and cost much and the country would be better off without them and the baggage they bring. The only reason we haven't gotten rid of them before is that the NY Congressional delegation desperately fights to keep that issue off the radarscope any time it begins to arise. They know that if PR were to be made independent, half of Puerto Ricans would become New York Ricans before the wall went up. NY doesn't want that kind of exponential increase in its welfare costs. Therefore they do whatever they can to keep the status quo ante. My breaking point with them came over Vieques. If those characters can't see fit to let a sixty-year old naval gunnery range continue to be used, they don't deserve to be part of the United States. Cut 'em loose, and pronto. Let them see how they like being on their own. Adios, muchachos. |
| Posted by: mac 2006-02-27 07:49 |
| #2 Get these fools out of America. Make Puerto Rico fend for itself as an independent country. Its territorial status is a leftover from the Spanish-American War, and it's about time that it was resolved. |
| Posted by: gromky 2006-02-27 02:46 |
| #1 Local newspaper reports that a special Fed-sanctioned study has recommended that the PR be given three options - status quo, full indpendence, or full statehood. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-02-27 02:06 |