WASHINGTON – On November 19, hundreds gathered in Washington, D.C., to call for more assistance to Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
Demonstrators called for the cancellation of Puerto Rico’s debt, an end to the Jones Act, and more financial aid to help rebuild its power grid and infrastructure.
Many rally attendees also felt that Congress and the American public weren’t aware that Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens.
“I myself was born in Hoboken, New Jersey, okay?” said Milagio Plumey, a retired parole officer living in New Jersey, who made the trip down for the rally. “But whether born in Puerto Rico, or born here – we’re Americans.”