More than 85 national and local organizations from Puerto Rico to Arkansas back Velázquez—Ocasio-Cortez Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act

Letter to Speaker Pelosi and Senator Schumer urges them to pass bill
that would facilitate fair, transparent and inclusive process for Puerto Rico’s future
Signatories include SEIU, Black Lives Matter Greater New York, Vamos Puerto Rico, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Faith in Action, Indivisible and the Open Society Policy Center

March 4, 2021
(updated on March 5, 2021)

Washington DC — In a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, more than 85 grassroots Puerto Rican, national, multiracial, and interfaith organizations urged both leaders to prioritize the right to a self-determination process that is fair and inclusive of all non-territorial options. The letter, released today by the Center for Popular Democracy, the Puerto Rican Cultural Center of Chicago and Power 4 Puerto Rico, details why the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act, introduced by Reps. Nydia Velázquez and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is the best and truly democractic legislation towards resolving 122 years of U.S. colonialism in Puerto Rico:

“First, it centers the people of Puerto Rico as the main protagonists of their own destiny,” the letter states. “Second, it outlines a thoughtful yet pragmatic plan to develop a list of non-territorial options and transition plans...Third, it would facilitate a thoroughly democratic mechanism for the public selection of those options. Fourth, and most importantly, it has the growing support of members of the Puerto Rican diaspora in the U.S. and among a cross-section of Puerto Rican society in the island.”

The letter also cites President Joe Biden’s publicly made commitment to bringing all of the status options to the table: “President Biden clearly stated the right course of action for Congress to take when he said: ‘I will engage Puerto Ricans — including representatives of every status option — in a process of self-determination, listening and developing federal legislation that outlines a fair path forward.’”

Last August, Velázquez and Ocasio-Cortez introduced the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act, which proposes a Status Convention that would be inclusive of ALL non-colonial options. Instead of imposing a predetermined outcome, the convention would be called for by the Puerto Rico legislature and approved by voters of all ideologies and political persuasions. A Constitutional Assembly, or Status Convention, has long been promoted, but never actually implemented, as a way to decolonize the Island in an inclusive, participatory and fully democratic fashion. Under the Act, a Congressional negotiating commission would have to answer questions that six status referendums have failed to secure, such as on the implications for taxes, language, and reparations under any status transition.

“For true, legitimate change, Puerto Rico’s status must be resolved from the ground up,” Velázquez and Ocasio-Cortez wrote in a joint op-ed when they introduced the Act. “Plans for altering the Island’s relationship with the U.S. should not just garner the consent of the Puerto Rican people; they should originate with them.”

Organizations from Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican diaspora, and allied organizations crossing the nation and representing labor, the interfaith community, African Americans and immigrants, signed the letter.

"VAMOS supports a true process of self-determination for Puerto Rico. That is why we denounce the deceptive attempts by the New Progressive Party which pretends, via lies, the imposition of statehood. We believe in an inclusive, participatory and democratic process that allows all non-colonial, non-territorial status options to compete on equal footing. For these reasons we support the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act sponsored by Puerto Rican Congresswomen Nydia Velázquez and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortéz,” Justo Méndez Arámburu, Coordinator of VAMOS Puerto Rico.

“This open letter to Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Schumer is a call for justice,” said Melissa Mark-Viverito, Spokeswoman for the Puerto Rican Cultural Center. “We urge all Members of Congress to recognize the human rights of Puerto Ricans to decolonize their island free of imposition by supporting the Velázquez / Ocasio-Cortez bill. Let us not pretend that having only one option on the ballot represents any true self determination process, as some so-called progressives would have you believe. True self-determination reflects the broad diversity of views of the Puerto Rican community."

“As the United States attempts to right so many injustices, it must also shed its colonial legacy by supporting the leadership and decision-making of Puerto Ricans,” said Erica González, Director of the national Power 4 Puerto Rico coalition. “We endorse the framework that Reps. Velázquez and Ocasio- Cortez have thoughtfully laid out for self-determination because it leaves no Puerto Rican behind in a decolonization process that must be conducted with the utmost seriousness, integrity and detail that the Island deserves.”

"For 123 years, Puerto Rico has been a colony of the United States. This Congress and the Biden-Harris administration have an historic opportunity to take a serious look at the impact colonialism has had on Puerto Rico and change course. The United States has extracted wealth from Puerto Rico, persecuted political dissenters, and used our land for military testing and human experiments,” said Julio López Varon, Director of Community Dignity Campaigns, Center for Popular Democracy. “More recently, its failed economic policies have left the island suffering through a debt crisis, hurricanes, earthquakes, and a pandemic that has killed thousands and forced many more to leave. The Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act provides a path to decolonization through self-determination that could finally put an end to Puerto Rico's colonial status and ensure that the people of Puerto Rico have a voice in their future. The time is now for Congress to pass this legislation, an important step to address the human rights abuses that have been inflicted on the island."

“The people of Puerto Rico have the right to decide their own future,” said Paco Fabián, spokesperson for Our Revolution. “That can only be achieved through a self determination process that is fair and balanced by a constituent assembly. Our Revolution is proud to support the Puerto Rico Self- Determination Act to reach this goal.”

“The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement stands shoulder to shoulder with our Puerto Rican sisters and brothers in demanding their human right to self determination and decolonization. We believe, as they do, that any such process should be fair, inclusive of all sides and binding on the US government,” said Chivona Newsome, Co-Founder, Black Lives Matter Greater New York. "Since the transatlantic Slave trade, Black people across the diaspora remain shackled by systemic oppression. It is our duty to denounce the imperialism through which the US holds and treats island nations under its colonial rule.

Congress has the power to stop colonization. Failure to support the Puerto Rico Self Determination Act by any member is to uphold White Supremacy.”

###

Text of Letters
March 3rd, 2021

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Schumer:

The 117th Congress has an historic opportunity to put an end to 123 years of colonialism in Puerto Rico and jump-start a process of self-determination for its people. To this end, the group of over 80 undersigned organizations urge you to support and prioritize the passage of the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act.

Progressives across the country are closely following current debates about Puerto Rico. As you know, there are different opinions about how to resolve its colonial status. However, it is only Puerto Ricans who should have the authority and right to decide the future of Puerto Rico. To date, there has not been a fair, transparent, and federally binding process for Puerto Ricans to determine their political status. It is high time for that to change and that is why we urge you to support the right to a self-determination process that is fair and inclusive of all non-territorial options.

While some may argue that the matter of Puerto Ricans' opinion on political status was settled by the results of a referendum administered during the November 3, 2020 election, that is not the case for two reasons. Firstly, only 54.72% of registered voters participated in the referendum, rendering the small margin by which a yes to statehood won (52.52%) not decisive. Secondly, the referendum — a yes or no vote on statehood — was not binding, did not include a transition plan or an educational campaign on the consequences of the vote, and was not inclusive of other political status options. This is not a substitute for the deliberate process envisioned by the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act, through which democratically elected members of a status convention consult with a congressional commission on creating definitions and transition plans for different status options, with Puerto Ricans ultimately deciding their political fate through a final vote.

President Biden clearly stated the right course of action for Congress to take when he said: “I will engage Puerto Ricans — including representatives of every status option — in a process of self-determination, listening and developing federal legislation that outlines a fair path forward.”

As they have for decades, Puerto Ricans are clamoring for a legitimate, accountable, and inclusive process for decolonization and self-determination. For this, we need your leadership. We were enthused to learn from our colleagues in New York of Senate Majority Leader Schumer’s expressions of support for H.R. 8113 - Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2020, introduced by your New York colleagues Representatives Nydia Velazquez and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. We expect the bill to be reintroduced in the House during the early part of the 117th Congress.

We, the undersigned, support this legislation for several reasons. First, it centers the people of Puerto Rico as the main protagonists of their own destiny. Second, it outlines a thoughtful yet pragmatic plan to develop a list of non-territorial options and transition plans. Third, it would facilitate a thoroughly democratic mechanism for the public selection of those options. Fourth, and most importantly, it has the growing support of members of the Puerto Rican diaspora in the U.S. and among a cross-section of Puerto Rican society in the island.

This is the time to usher in a new relationship between the United States and the people of Puerto Rico. The colonization of Puerto Rico is a shameful part of this country’s history. We have an opportunity to rectify this reality and we hope to work closely with you to this end.

We look forward to your response and leadership on this matter.

Sincerely,

National

Boricuas Unidos en la Diáspora

Center for Popular Democracy

Diáspora en Resistencia

Diáspora Ricans for Self Determination

Indivisible

Faith in Action

Hedge Clippers

MiJente

National Urban League

Open Society Policy Center

Our Revolution

Power 4 Puerto Rico

Service Employees International Union (SEIU)

Union of Concerned Scientists

VAMOS en la Diáspora

Arkansas

Arkansas Community Organization

California

Bay Area Alliance for a Sustainable Puerto Rico

Puerto Ricans in Action

Connecticut

Despierta Boricua at Yale

Florida

Alianza for Progress

CHISPA Florida

Florida Immigrant Coalition

Florida Rising

La Mesa Boricua de Florida

Illinois

Hispanic Housing Corp

Historians for Peace and Democracy

Illinois Coalition Against Torture

National Boricua Human Rights Network, Chicago

Puerto Rican Agenda

Puerto Rican Cultural Center

Segundo Ruiz Belvis

Massachusetts

Alianza for Puerto Rico/Massachusetts

Minnesota

Puerto Ricans in Minnesota (PRIM)

Take Action Minnesota

Nevada

Make the Road NV

New Hampshire

Rights and Democracy RaD in New Hampshire and Vermont

New Mexico

Organizers in the Land of Enchantment Olé in New Mexico

New Jersey

Make the Road NJ

New York

Black Lives Matter Greater New York

Cancel the Debt

Churches United for Fair Housing (CUFFH)

Friends of Puerto Rico Initiative, NYC

Make the Road New York

New York Communities for Change

New York University’s Puerto Rican Student Association (NYU PRÁ)

Syracuse Peace Council

Trinity Lutheran Church

VOCAL NY

North Carolina

Action NC

Ohio

Avanzamos Unidos

Ohio Organizing Collaborative

Young Latino Network

Pennsylvania

CASA PA

Center for Coal Field Justice

Make the Road PA

Philly Boricuas

The People for Puerto Rico

Wisconsin

Black Leader Organizing Communities in Wisconsin LOCK

Puerto Rico

Alianza de Salud para el Pueblo

Alianza pro Libre Asociación Soberana

AmerindiaPR

Blanca Eró y Jacobo Morales

Asociación ACirc

Bosque Modelo de Puerto Rico

Colegio de Profesionales del Trabajo Social de Puerto Rico

Ciudadanía por la Transparencia Electoral

Colectivo Verde Luz

Conuco Campesino

Iniciativa Comunitaria Agrocultural de Aguas Buenas

Junte de Artistas Boricuas

Mapeyé, la Orquesta Criolla Nacional de Puerto Rico

Maria Fund

Mesa de Diálogo Martin Luther King, Jr.

Movimiento Independentista Nacional Hostosiano

Movimiento Unión Soberanista

Nuestra Escuela

Organización Boricua de Agricultura Ecológica

Organización Puertorriqueña de la Mujer Trabajadora

Our Revolution Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Para Tod@s

Rev. Enrique Mercado Cruz, miembro de la Junta de Directores del Concilio de Iglesias

Rev. Felipe Lozada Montañez, Obispo Emérito de la Iglesia Evangélica Luterana

Rev. IdaliaNegrón Camaño, Obispa del Sínodo del Caribe de la Iglesia Evangélica Luterana

Somos Dign@s

Universidad del Pueblo

Urbe Apie

VAMOS Puerto Rico

3 de marzo de 2021

Estimades Presidenta Pelosi y Líder de la Mayoría del Senado Schumer,

El Congreso número 117 tiene una oportunidad histórica de ponerle fin a 123 años de colonialismo en Puerto Rico y comenzar un proceso de autodeterminación para su gente. Con este objetivo, el grupo de las más de 80 organizaciones abajo firmantes le solicitamos apoyar y dar prioridad a la aprobación del Proyecto Ley de Autodeterminación de Puerto Rico (“Puerto Rico Self Determination Act”).

Los progresistas alrededor de todo el país están siguiendo muy de cerca los debates actuales sobre Puerto Rico. Como saben, hay diferentes opiniones sobre cómo solucionar su status colonial. Sin embargo, son solo los puertorriqueños quienes deberían tener la autoridad y el derecho a decidir el futuro de Puerto Rico.

Hasta el momento, no ha habido un proceso justo, transparente y vinculante desde el punto de vista federal para que los puertorriqueños determinen su status político. Ya es hora de que eso cambie. Es por eso que le urgimos que apoye el derecho a un proceso de autodeterminación justo, que incluya todas las opciones no territoriales.

Algunas personas podrían argumentar que la opinión de los puertorriqueños sobre su status político se resolvió con los resultados del referéndum celebrado durante las elecciones generales el 3 de noviembre de 2020. Ese no es el caso por dos razones.

Primero, solo el 54.7% de los votantes registrados participaron en el referéndum, lo que resulta en que el pequeño margen por el que ganó el sí a la estadidad (52.5%) no sea decisivo. Segundo, el referéndum —votar sí o no a la estadidad— no fue vinculante, no incluyó un plan de transición o una campaña educativa sobre las consecuencias del voto; y tampoco incluyó las otras opciones de status político.

Eso no es un buen sustituto para el proceso deliberativo concebido bajo el Proyecto de Ley de Autodeterminación de Puerto Rico. Dicho proyecto propone la elección democrática de miembros de una asamblea de status que consulte con una comisión congresional sobre la creación de definiciones y planes de transición para las diferentes opciones de status. Y que el pueblo puertorriqueño finalmente decida su destino político mediante una votación final.

El presidente Biden ha manifestado claramente el debido curso de acción que debe tomar el Congreso cuando dijo: “Comenzaré un diálogo con los puertorriqueños —incluyendo a representantes de cada opción de status —sobre un proceso de autodeterminación; escuchando y desarrollando legislación federal que delinee una ruta justa para mover el proceso adelante ”.

Según lo han hecho por décadas, los puertorriqueños están reclamando un proceso de descolonización y autodeterminación legítimo, transparente e inclusivo. Para lograrlo necesitamos su liderato. Nos entusiasmó conocer, por nuestros colegas en Nueva York, las expresiones del líder de la mayoría del Senado Schumer apoyando el proyecto H.R. 8113 - Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act of 2020; cuyas co-autoras son sus colegas de Nueva York, las representantes Nydia Velázquez y Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. Esperamos que el proyecto de ley se vuelva a presentar en la Cámara temprano durante el Congreso número 117.

Nosotros, las organizaciones abajo firmantes, apoyamos dicha legislación por varias razones. Primero, se centra en el pueblo de Puerto Rico como el protagonista principal de su propio destino. Segundo, delinea un plan considerado, además de pragmático, para desarrollar una lista de opciones no territoriales y sus correspondientes planes de transición. Tercero, facilita un mecanismo meticulosamente democrático para la selección pública de esas opciones. Y más importante, por último, cuenta con el creciente apoyo de miembros de la diáspora puertorriqueña en los Estados Unidos y de una variedad de representantes de de la sociedad puertorriqueña en la isla.

Ahora es el momento de encaminarnos hacia una nueva relación entre los Estados Unidos y el pueblo de Puerto Rico. La colonización de Puerto Rico es una parte vergonzosa de la historia de este país. Tenemos la oportunidad de rectificar esta realidad y esperamos trabajar estrechamente con ustedes hacia ese fin.

Esperamos su respuesta y liderato sobre este asunto.

Sinceramente,

Nacional