Puerto Rico, Colonization, Privatization, and Human Rights

The Fight Against Colonialism, Capitalism and Imperialism
http://www.laborfest.net/2016/2016schedule.htm

July 14 (Thursday) 7:00 PM (Free) ILWU 34 Hall - 801 2nd St., next to AT&T Ball Park
Puerto Rico, Colonization, Privatization, and Human Rights

Puerto Rico has been a colony of the United States since 1898. The first free trade zone was set up in Puerto Rico during the 1950’s and it was called “Bootstrap”. It set up tax free zones for US multi-nationals and the US has also pushed privatization of the Puerto Rican economy in energy, healthcare, and other services.

The result has been deprivation and forced exile of the majority of the people in Puerto Rico. Today the US government has taken direct control of Puerto Rico like the bankrupt cities in Detroit and Flint, and this is being used to attack the working class. This forum will look at the present situation and also what US workers can do about this.

The following list is some of the speakers:

Roberto Pastrana is a member of SEIU Local 1021. In 2014, he moved from Puerto Rico, where he had been a member of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organizations on the islands, such as Puerto Rico para Tod@s, and the Committee against Homophobia and Discrimination at the University of Puerto Rico. A militant pro-independence socialist, Roberto was part of the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) and the Federación Universitaria Pro Independencia (FUPI). He was part of the push for LGBT rights and worked for visibility and solidarity within the working class.

Ricardo Ortiz, labor activist and supporter of the workers movement in Puerto Rico. He was a leading member of the Frente Socialist de Puerto Rico, and was part of the student movement at the University of Puerto Rico., the Comite de Trabajadores de Caguas and the Regional Trade Union Council of the Caguas Region during the 1980's.

Sponsored by United Public Workers for Action
http://www.upwa.info