Dear Representative [Last Name],
I hope this letter finds you well on this solemn 125th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Puerto Rico, and forty-five years after the tragic events in Cerro Maravilla. These emblematic milestones serve as a poignant reminder of the violence Puerto Rico has faced in its pursuit of justice and decolonization.
Decolonizing Puerto Rico should be a priority for you, and it has to be done right. That is why we urge you not to co-sponsor the flawed and incomplete Puerto Rico Status Act (H.R. 2757). If you already co-sponsored this bill, we urge you to reconsider. The tragic anniversaries commemorated today remind us of why Congress needs to ensure full details and transparency in any decolonization bill put forth.
On this day 45 years ago two young students, Carlos Enrique Soto Arriví and Arnaldo Darío Rosado Torres, were manipulated by an undercover agent, Alejandro González Malavé, to go to Cerro Maravilla, a mountain in Ponce where the antenna to Channel 7 was located. The undercover agent stated that the proposed plan was to take down the antenna by planting a bomb. The agent’s purpose in misleading these two young men was to teach a lesson to pro-independence groups.
Upon reaching the mountain, Carlos and Arnaldo were ambushed by ten armed policemen who beat them severely and later executed them in cold blood. The students were unarmed and had no explosives. The authorities initially propagated a false narrative, branding the victims as terrorists to further vilify the independence movement. It was only through the efforts of a Puerto Rican Senate investigation – and brilliant investigative reporting – that the truth of González Malavé’s manipulation and the violence done by the officers was revealed, leading to the arrest of those involved. However, despite this egregious violation of human rights, no federal charges were filed, and no tangible measures were taken to address this grave violation of human rights. The Cerro Maravilla events have since been considered one of the worst political cover-ups in Puerto Rican history, perpetrated by the FBI and local authorities.
The Puerto Rican independence movement has consistently been met with hostility and violence, stretching back to the United States’ invasion of the island on July 25th, 1898 -exactly 125 years ago, – relegating it to the status of a colony under the Supreme Court doctrine, in place to this day, that says Puerto Rico is “owned by, but not a part of the United States” and that the island is “foreign in a domestic sense.” Throughout the subsequent history, the independence movement has faced persecution and criminalization, exemplified by the infamous Gag Law, or Ley 53 de 1948, which criminalized the display of the Puerto Rican flag, the FBI keeping dossiers and conducting illegal domestic surveillance of independence supporters, and even being complicit in political assassinations at the time.
The tragic events at Cerro Maravilla serve as a reminder of the flagrant disregard for the fundamental rights of those in favor of independence for Puerto Rico. In the context of this historical backdrop, H.R. 2757 raises serious concerns. While we acknowledge the significance of addressing Puerto Rico’s status and its path towards decolonization, it is vital to highlight that the language of the bill leaves out critical information that Puerto Ricans rightfully deserve to know. A clear and transparent decolonizing proposal is essential for the well-being and future of Puerto Ricans and all citizens of the United States. Without key details over language, taxes, citizenship and clear transition plans, H.R. 2757 would set Puerto Rico up for failure, not success.
Therefore, I strongly urge you not to co-sponsor – or if you have to reconsider your support of – the so-called Puerto Rico Status Act (H.R. 2757) until all the missing details are included and fully bilingual hearings are held in San Juan and DC. It is imperative that we address the deep-rooted issues surrounding Puerto Rico’s status with a commitment to transparency, justice, and the recognition of the island’s right to self-determination.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I trust that you will give due consideration to the concerns raised, and I hope that we can count on your support for a just and fair resolution for Puerto Rico’s future.
Sincerely,
