It has been announced that Ricardo Rosselló, the governor of Puerto Rico will step down following an overwhelming backlash against thousands of leaked messages filled with insulting rhetoric.
The Center for Investigative Journalism leaked 889 pages of transcripts filled with messages shared between Rosselló and top advisors. Including were numerous sexist remarks, calling female politicians such things as “whore” and “daughter of a bitch”. Gay men, including singer Ricky Martin, were referred to as “cocksuckers” by Rosselló himself. There were even attacks against victims of Hurricane Maria.
Over the last 12 days, the streets of Puerto Rico have been filled with protestors who have had enough of the government, with hundreds of thousands of people taking part.
Yas!?️?
"Ricky Martin and his Pride flag lead the protest against Puerto Rico's governor" https://t.co/nyE3wAKIL4— Lisa Nic An Bhreithimh ?️???(she/her)??️⚧️ (@LisaNicAnB) July 23, 2019
Ricky Martin, who was one of those attacked in the messages, shared, “We’re tired of the cynicism. They put down women. They put down the LGBT community, people with disabilities. Corruption, it is insane. We are tired. We can’t take it anymore.”
The leaked messages were the final straw following a series of arrests of former officials over fraud, including the misuse of federal funding, years of investigations into corruption and a slow recovery for the country following Hurricane Maria.
Rosselló, who had also previously praised Trump’s lacklustre provision of aid to Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria, had initially apologised but refused to step down, although he said he would not stand for reelection. In a social media video he shared, “I recognise that apologising is not sufficient. Only my work will help restore the trust of these sectors and embark on a real reconciliation.”
BREAKING: It is official. @ricardorossello will resign effective August 2. Protesters light fireworks, erupt in euphoric cheer. Here is the moment they find out their cries, fraught as they are, have been heard. That Ricky has resigned. #rickyrenuncia #PuertoRico pic.twitter.com/y3FYBidOGa
— Nick Brown (@NickPBrown) July 25, 2019
However, news sources have now shared that the disgraced governor will officially leave office on August 2 and will apparently give a farewell address this afternoon. It seems he may have jumped before he was pushed as the country’s House of Representatives had begun to form a committee to look at his impeachment.
© 2019 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
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