puerto rico declaration
of independence
This year marks the 250th anniversary of American independence. It is also the 128th year of the United States’ colonial domination over Puerto Rico. At a time of profound crises in Puerto Rico and the U.S. that demand political action, we invite you to sign this declaration and signal your support for Puerto Rican sovereignty.
Whereas:Puerto Rico has been a colony of the United States for 128 years;Colonialism is a violation of human rights and international law;Puerto Rico is a nation and Puerto Ricans are a distinct people with an inalienable right to self determination and independence;The United States violently repressed Puerto Rico’s independence movement throughout the 20th century;Puerto Rico’s colonial status enables economic exploitation and perpetuates social vulnerability;Statehood is an imperialist outcome: the annexation of a nation that the United States invaded;Independence protects and preserves Puerto Rico’s unique culture and national identity, while statehood would lead to assimilation and erasure;The United States has refused to grant Puerto Rico statehood and has ignored all democratic efforts to change Puerto Rico’s status;There is a growing movement for independence in Puerto Rico, where more than 40% of voters supported sovereignty in 2024.
We denounce the United States’ ongoing colonial domination of Puerto Rico, we demand a just and urgent decolonization process, and we declare our support for Puerto Rican independence.
ABOUT THE DECLARATION
What Is This?
The Puerto Rican Declaration of Independence is a project of Boricuas Unidos en la Diáspora (BUDPR), a national organization of Puerto Ricans in the United States who educate, organize, and advocate for Puerto Rico's decolonization and independence.The declaration is not a legal or political document. It is a way to measure and demonstrate the strength of public support for Puerto Rican independence.Who Can Sign the Declaration?
The fight to free Puerto Rico belongs to all of us. Whether you are Puerto Rican, American, or whatever else, we encourage anyone who believes in freedom and justice for Puerto Rico to sign and signal their support.
Connect with Boricuas Unidos en la Diáspora (BUDPR)
SIGNATORIES
| Alberto C. Medina - Colorado, U.S. |