In the early 1900s, after 400 years of Spanish colonization, Puerto Rico was claimed by a new power: the US. In 1914, PR unanimously voted for independence, but was ignored—three years later, an American governor was appointed by the mainland.

Those in favor of independence were met with lethal violence to quell nationalistic sentiment. Los Cadetes de la Republica, led by Pedro Campos, lead an armed struggled against the colonizers in the 1930s. Those who participated were either executed or charged with sedition.

In the late 1940s, the island held its first ever free gubernatorial election. Luis Marìn won, and during his tenure, he (a darling of anti-communists in the US) would utilize La Ley de Mordaza (the “Gag Law”) to imprison those who publicly spoke in favor of independence.

In this time, Puerto Rican’s were surveilled and thousands were arrested for their political beliefs. The PR flag was outlawed. Campos, who had been released from prison in 1947, led rebels to attack police stations in Jayuya alongside local rebel leader Blanca Canales.

Marín swiftly ordered the towns be secured and executed many of the independence fighters. Independence fighters continued to try to fight against colonization, even making attempts on Harry Truman’s life on the mainland as well as opening fire on Congress in 1954.

This is only one small part of a centuries long struggle against colonization So please miss me with your takes about “Puerto Ricans want statehood, not independence” when it’s devoid of any analysis on the history of the independence movement in PR.

I could go on and on but my solidarity is with my people. Their struggle for independence has been met with immeasurable violence. So when you wonder why independence does not have the strongest support, take a century of violence into consideration first.