Puerto Rico House of Representatives Celebrates U.S. Citizenship - Speaker Laments Unequal Treatment in U.S. Congress
The Puerto Rico House of Representatives celebrated the 92nd anniversary of the Jones-Shafroth Act of 1917 at the Capitol building in Old San Juan On Monday March 2, 2009, the. Better known as the Jones Act, it was this legislation that gave statutory United States’ citizenship on Puerto Ricans that year. read more (March 11, 2009)
In Memoriam: Guy Francis Smith
Our long-time friend and Council board member, Mr. Guy Francis Smith passed away at his residence in Alexandria, Virginia on Tuesday December 30, 2008. Guy was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 4, 1936, to Peter and Hattie Smith and is survived by his sister, Theresa Carstens also of Milwaukee, her husband Carl, five nephews, one niece, their families, and of course countless friends. read more (January 10, 2009)
Llenza: Civil Rights, Service to Country Demand Congress Support Puerto Rico Statehood Vote
In remarks to the Puerto Rico Bar Association of Florida in Fort Lauderdale on October 25th, retired two-star General Orlando Llenza (US Air Force) proclaimed that Congress’ support for a vote in Puerto Rico to choose between becoming a fully represented state or an independent republic is a civil rights issue. Describing the exceptional Puerto Rican history of military excellence, General Llenza described more than 100 years of extraordinary heroism and blood sacrifice for the United States while Congress has denied Puerto Rico full representation in Congress and the right to vote for President. The United States took possession of Puerto Rico following the Spanish-American War of 1898 but the U.S. Congress has never supported a vote in Puerto Rico on whether the island should become a State of the Union or an independent republic. Puerto Rico is now the longest held territory of the United States having surpassed Oklahoma which was a U.S. territory for 104 years. The last 2 territories admitted as states of the union were Alaska and Hawaii in 1958 and 1959 respectively. General Llenza’s full remarks can be viewed here.
Statehood for Puerto Rico - The Party Platforms Leading into the 2008 Conventions
The 2008 Democratic and Republican National Conventions are around the corner. Although these
conventions may be physically distant from Puerto Rico, their pertinence is clear. The National Conventions
are where the Democratic and Republican parties formally announce their presidential candidates, and
perhaps more importantly, their platforms for the coming four years. These platforms announce the
parties’ stances on topics ranging from the war in Iraq to Puerto Rico’s status. Read more...
New Poll: Statehood Favored by Large Majority in Puerto Rico
A recent poll shows that now more than ever, a large island majority wants Statehood
for Puerto Rico. The poll, conducted in late May by Kaagan Research Associates of
New York and later published in El Nuevo Día, Puerto Rico’s largest daily newspaper
shows 57% of Puerto Ricans want Statehood as the island’s permanent political status,
dismissing the current unrepresentative commonwealth status outright by an
overwhelming 23 percentage points. This 23-point spread is the largest recorded in any
political status poll in Puerto Rico’s history. Read more... (July 14, 2008)
UN Special Committee Underscores Why Puerto Rico Self-Determination Process is Needed
The United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization met Monday June 9 to discuss a draft
resolution urging the United States to expedite the process of self-determination for the people of
Puerto Rico. Read more... (June 23, 2008)
Statehood Issue Central to Outcome of PR Democratic Primary
Puerto Rican supporters of presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama split distinctly on an issue not dealt with by mainland voters in the Puerto Rican primary Sunday, June 1st - Statehood for Puerto Rico. Senator Clinton's supporters in Puerto Rico heavily backed Statehood for Puerto Rico while Obama's did not, according to CNN's exclusive exit polls. Clinton handily defeated Obama by a margin of more than 2:1 with 68 percent to Obama's 32 percent in the island's party primary, the first since 1980. Among Clinton supporters, 72 percent said they want to see full U.S. Statehood for Puerto Rico, compared to 34 percent of Obama supporters. Read more...
Our long-time friend and Council board member, Mr. Guy Francis Smith passed away at his residence in Alexandria, Virginia on Tuesday December 30, 2008. Guy was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 4, 1936, to Peter and Hattie Smith and is survived by his sister, Theresa Carstens also of Milwaukee, her husband Carl, five nephews, one niece, their families, and of course countless friends. 
