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<div class="header reader-header reader-show-element"> <font
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href="https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Police-Injure-14-in-Protests-Demanding-Resignation-of-Puerto-Rico-Governor-Rossello-20190716-0005.html">https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Police-Injure-14-in-Protests-Demanding-Resignation-of-Puerto-Rico-Governor-Rossello-20190716-0005.html</a></font>
<h1 class="reader-title">Police Injure 14 in Protests Demanding
Resignation of Puerto Rico Governor Rossello</h1>
Published 16 July 2019 </div>
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<p>In an unsuccessful attempt to discourage demonstrations
in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, the police
Monday harshly cracked down on protesters who are
demanding the resignation of the <a
href="https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Puerto-Rico-Rossello-Refuses-to-Resign-Amid-Corruption-Scandal-20190712-0015.html"
target="_blank">Governor of Puerto Rico Ricardo
Rossello</a>, leaving at least 14 injured and 3
arrested.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><em><strong>RELATED:</strong></em></p>
<p><a
href="https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Protests-US-Demand-Puerto-Rico-Governor-Resignation-20190715-0020.html"
target="_blank"><em><strong>Protests in Major US
Cities Call For Puerto Rico's Governor to Resign</strong></em></a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>The area surrounding La Fortaleza, the seat of the
Puerto Rican government located in Old San Juan, was the
scene of strong clashes, involving the launching of
incendiary objects, pavement stones, while the police
responded with tear gas.</p>
<p>Given that <a
href="https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/puerto-rico-demand-for-resignation-governor-ricardo-rossello-corruption-20190714-0007.html"
target="_blank">riots have intensified over the last
two days</a>, Rossello could not enter the
government headquarters, as confirmed by the
Undersecretary of Interior Erik Rolon, who also
announced that the Governor will not resign.</p>
<p>Police were urgently mobilized towards Rossello's lodge
in Cayey, 54 kilometers from San Juan, where people also
began protesting by burning trash at the access road to
the governor's residence.</p>
<p>At a press conference with Rolon, Police Chief Henry
Escalera warned that his institution, which has used the
"level of force it should have used," will defend
democracy "to the last drop of blood."</p>
<p>Over the last weekend, there have been protests every
day in front of La Fortaleza, some of which ended with
violent incidents and altercations.</p>
<p>Demonstrations have been convened by organizations such
as the Teachers' Association, the Puerto Rican Workers'
Central, the General Union of Workers, the Victory
Citizen Movement and the Workers' Union of the
Electrical and Irrigation Industry.</p>
<p><strong>This is not Venezuela or Nicaragua. It is
Puerto Rico where thousands protest at the capital
against corruption. International media networks are
silent about what happens on the island.</strong></p>
<p>"We're not going to stop until we see him resign" or
"If Ricky does not leave, we're going to take him out",
were some of the slogans people shouted.</p>
<p>Puerto Rican artists widely known internationally such
as Residente and Bad Bunny have already announced that
they will demonstrate Wednesday as part of a new rally
to request the resignation of Rossello.</p>
<p>The new wave of protests increased in intensity due to
the full publication of 889 pages of Telegram messages
in which the governor and his advisors ("the brothers")
make homophobic, sexist and derogatory comments
against opposition journalists and political leaders.</p>
<p>People living in the streets around La Fortaleza
and historical places such as the Cathedral of San Juan
awoke Thuesday to painted
graffitis reflecting discontent towards the whole Puerto
Rican political class.</p>
<p>Public outrage increased when the House of
Representatives president Carlos Mendez announced Sunday
that the parliament will not initiate a process for the
removal of Governor Rossello, arguing that the Justice
Department is the institution that should analyze the
possible crimes that the leaked Telegram chats could
imply.<br>
</p>
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<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
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San Francisco, CA 94110
415 863.9977
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