Thousands gathered in San Juan early Monday to take part in what’s expected to be the largest protest in Puerto Rico’s history, occupying the island’s busiest highway.
Protesters gathered at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in what is being called the Marcha del Pueblo (The People’s March) and the Paro Nacional (National Strike). After 9 a.m., demonstrators were expected to virtually stop activity in the San Juan metropolitan area and march across some of the island’s principal highways, such as the Las Américas Expressway, Roosevelt Avenue and Jesús T. Piñero, which connect the island’s main shopping, banking and commercial districts.
Many businesses closed on Monday in anticipation of the crowds, including Plaza Las Américas, one the Caribbean’s largest malls.
The protesters students, teachers, a community of hearing-impaired people, young professionals, truck drivers and families from all walks of life, carrying signs and chanting, “Ricky, renuncia!” (“Ricky, resign!”).
The national strike comes a day after Rosselló announced on Facebook that he would step down as head of Puerto Rico’s pro-statehood party and wouldn’t be seeking re-election in 2020. But he also doubled down on his assertions that he wouldn’t resign, despite massive protests on the island and dozens of calls from local leaders and from the mainland U.S. demanding that he do so.
Hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans have been taking to the streets of San Juan, the U.S. territory’s capital city, as well as towns across the island for the last 10 days demanding his ouster.
Puerto Rican artists Ricky Martin and René Pérez Joglar, known as Residente, confirmed on Sunday night that they would be attending Monday’s march and rally, days after rallying hundreds of thousands in protest.
Martin said on social media that he wanted lawmakers in Puerto Rico’s Legislature to move forward with an impeachment process. “If he still refuses to resign, that’s the only option we have. It’s on you to listen to the massive demands of each Puerto Rican person,” he said.
Other Puerto Rican artists such as Bad Bunny, Tommy Torres, Kanny García and Olga Tañón are also joining Monday’s rally.
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