By Marie Torres
Beginning on September 22nd, 2017, a modern colony of the “greatest country of the world” went into complete darkness with no connection to the rest of the world. The small island of Borinquen (Puerto Rico) with its 3.4 million citizens suffered in isolation while Hurricane Maria ravaged the entire country, slowly traveling at about 10 km per hour. As category 5 storm, Maria was the most intense storm the island has experienced in over 100 years. It was not until day 4 or 5 that the millions of anxious Boricuas living in the states were able to hear any information about their loved ones on the island. This powerful storm wreaked havoc on the island, but the real atrocity has been the lack of U.S. response to help its colony.
In the months following the hurricane, the daily reality for Boricuas on the island and those in the diaspora has been horrendous. Since the storm, Boricuas have been crying out from help: jobs, money, food, water, medications. Yet, massive shutdowns and lack of supplies left hundreds to die in hospitals. Some Boricuas literally suffocated to death for lack of oxygen tanks, others have died for lack of common medicines, and countless other have been lost to diseases linked to lack of proper sanitation. Over the past 7 months, the average Boricua suffered 84 days without electricity, 60 days without access to drinking water, and more than 40 days without cell phone communication. Many in the interior regions and poor working class towns have suffered the most as they have been completely forgotten about by supply distributions. There have also been massive school closures, pension cuts, job loss, and austerity measures. These conditions have resulted in 300% increases in calls to Puerto Rican suicide hotlines, and a massive increase in suicides and reports of depression. Boricuas are desperately fighting to survive, but they are also crying out for liberation.
While the U.S. Federal Government’s official report only recognized 64 deaths related to the hurricane, the truth is that 4,645 Boricuas have been murdered since the hurricane, according to a study funded by Harvard as well as the accounts of Boricuas struggling on the island . We must be clear about this discrepancy: 4,645 Boricuas died because of US Government negligence and outright racism. Amerikkka will only say that 64 died as direct results of the storm which means they only count the Boricuas who drowned, got caught in mudslides, or were fatally hit with debris in order to maintain their innocence for the 4,581 lives that have been lost. Many are identifying this for what it is: a state-sponsored mass killing and disaster capitalism at its finest.
On June 1st, thousands of Boricuas gathered at the capital to collectively mourn the deaths of their beloved brothers and sisters. Thousands of pairs of shoes of those passed were placed in front of the capitol building with signs that read “ GENOCIDE” and “Decolonize this place.” Just June 18th, a proposal made by Cuba was presented to the UN for Puerto Rican Independence. While this is the 37th proposal given to the UN for Boricua Liberation, it shows that Boricuas will never stop fighting. ¡Que Viva Borinquen Libre!