Hundreds Rally to Support Puerto Rico in Washington

6 年前

Hundreds of people marched in support of Puerto Rico on Sunday, November 19, calling for reforms that organizers said would help the US territory, according to the event’s website.

The proposed measures include exempting the island from the Jones Act and canceling its debt. The Jones Act levies a tariff on shipping companies that want to carry cargo between Puerto Rico and another American port and had been temporarily lifted after Hurricane Maria.

Puerto Rico’s debt stands in excess of $70 billion, and the territory filed for bankruptcy earlier this year.

Organizers also are calling for aid to help Puerto Rico build a “stronger, safer, more sustainable infrastructure” following Hurricane Maria.

More than 50 percent of Puerto Rico still remains without power, according to the government website. About 10 percent of the island is still without access to running water, and 1,600 people remain in emergency shelters. Credit: Instagram/Michael Anthony via Storyful