Public pressure for independence

Puerto Ricans have been fighting for independence for over 100 years—nearly as long as they've been a US territory.^[1] A new independence movement is growing and should be acknowledged by the Puerto Rico government and the US. As far back as 1898, there have been government initiatives to suppress the Puerto Rico independence movement. In 1978, two independence activists were killed in Puerto Rico. Years later, it was discovered that government agents pushed for the murders to happen.^[2] Around the same time, the FBI operation known as COINTELPRO was going on. The FBI, among other things, was infiltrating and discrediting the Puerto Rican independence movement.^[3] There were also carpetas, files the government was keeping on anyone involved in the Puerto Rican nationalist movement.^[4] The US has been intentionally suppressing Puerto Rican independence for decades—not just from the public, but from the government. In 1914, Puerto Rico's Congress voted unanimously for independence from the US. Their vote was ignored.^[5] Instead, in 1917, the US appointed an American governor to govern the island, and Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship. Now, there is a growing movement featuring very prominent Puerto Rican citizens calling for independence once again. The growing independence movement should be acknowledged by the US. The US should pull out of Puerto Rico and make it an independent nation.