29 Jul 2019 | 08:21 AM UTC
US: Further protests scheduled in San Juan July 29 /update 12
Protest against proposed interim governor scheduled in San Juan on July 29; transportation disruptions expected
Event
Individuals are slated to protest the decision of appointing Secretary of Justice Wanda Vazquez as interim governor for Puerto Rico on Monday, July 29. The protest will begin at 17:30 (local time) in front of the Department of Justice.
A heightened security presence and transportation disruptions should be expected in San Juan. Clashes between protesters and security forces cannot be ruled out.
Context
Similar protests demanding the resignation of Governor Rosselló have been held throughout Puerto Rico since July 13 for 12 days. The protests were called following a scandal involving hundreds of pages of leaked texts between Rosselló and his cabinet members containing misogynistic and homophobic language. Rosselló refused to resign until July 24, when he stated he would leave office on August 2.
Protests have continued with the aim of opposing the proposed interim governor due to accusations of corruption, just as the outgoing governor and some of his cabinet. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has also implicated members of Rosselló's cabinet in fraud, conspiracy, and other corruption-related investigations.
Advice
Individuals in San Juan, and Puerto Rico more generally, are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all protests as a precaution, and obey all instructions issued by the local authorities.
