It’s time for statehood for Puerto Rico

Each year, Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate the culture and contributions of the 62.1 million Hispanic Americans living in the United States.

In Florida alone, nearly 5.7 million people are Hispanic and 1.15 million are Puerto Rican, making our state the third largest Hispanic population in the country. With numbers like these, it’s no surprise that Hispanic Americans make up one of the most influential voting blocs in the country.

The USA would not be the same without the hard work and sacrifice of our community. On November 5th, Puerto Ricans will hold a non-binding vote on statehood – all Hispanic Americans should enthusiastically support the island’s fight for equality.

The impact of Puerto Ricans in the US cannot be understated. Prior to territorial status, Puerto Ricans allied with American colonists in the Revolutionary War and contributed significantly to the capture of cities such as Baton Rouge, St. Louis and Pensacola.

As a territory, Puerto Ricans have maintained their dedication to our country. They have fought as American citizens in every war since World War I. More than 1,200 US citizens from Puerto Rico have died in combat while serving in our military, fighting to protect the rights of all Americans.

Beyond the sacrifice for our freedoms, Puerto Ricans have made major cultural contributions. The territory has produced a Supreme Court justice, members of Congress, astronauts, musicians, authors, athletes and more. Puerto Ricans are just as embedded and vital to American culture as any other American citizens.

However, keeping Puerto Rico as a US territory shows how little the contributions of the island’s 3.2 million American citizens are valued. Puerto Ricans have been subjected to a legacy of racism and colonialism that has prevented them from receiving the rights they deserve—federal voting, Medicare, Social Security, and veterans benefits, to name a few.

Puerto Ricans have been denied equality under the law, including full representation in the US government for over 125 years, despite having a population larger than 19 states. They cannot advocate for their community through an appeal to federal representatives or senators, because the status of the territory does not allow them to choose either.

When Puerto Ricans have voiced their opinion on the status question through non-binding plebiscites over the past decade, they have consistently shown their support for statehood. Despite significant progress in Congress on proposing legislation for a binding vote on the issue, it has not yet become law. This must change.

That is why this upcoming election is so important. In November, the Puerto Rican government will hold a local, non-binding plebiscite, the first to reflect the Puerto Rico Status Act (HR2757/S.3231), meaning that territorial status will not be an option on the ballot. Voters will choose between statehood, independence or independence with free association.

With overwhelming bipartisan support for the act and a plebiscite that aligns with the groundbreaking legislation, Puerto Rico’s territory issue is on its way to being resolved, as long as Congress maintains this momentum when it receives voter results.

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, it is imperative that we, as the Hispanic community, recognize that our collective strength has produced victory after victory. We must continue to demonstrate the will of the Hispanic people and take a stand against all forms of racism and remnants of colonialism against our community.

This Hispanic Heritage Month, I implore you to call your relatives and friends in Puerto Rico and encourage them to vote in the upcoming plebiscite. Impress on them that their decision will bring us one step closer to returning long-overdue rights to the millions of American citizens living in Puerto Rico.

Let’s use this month to remember that while we’ve accomplished a lot, we still have a long way to go.

Lydia Medrano is a sociologist and civil rights attorney. She is the District Director of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Tampa Bay and Immediate National Vice President for the Southeast Region.