Thousands Gather in Puerto Rico to Pray for and Protest the Government following Governor’s Mismanagement

Thousands Gather in Puerto Rico to Pray for and Protest the Government following Governor’s Mismanagement

Thousands are gathering in Puerto Rico to demand the resignation of Gov. Ricky Rosselló after text messages showed mismanagement.

According to the Christian Post, thousands of people have been gathering for about 10 days and holding peaceful demonstrations with singing, dancing, yoga and holding signs while sky diving or scuba diving.

Hundreds also kneeled at the foot of a famous fort in San Juan, Castillo de San Felipe del Morro, praying for their country.

“Forgive tribalist, if we’ve failed you in being contentious or for anything, forgive us, my God. We are a nation that loves you, Lord,” a man is heard praying on a bullhorn in Spanish in a video released on social media.

“Glory to God,” he added.

The demonstrations started after leaked messages from a group chat showed that the governor had been discussing confidential government information with profane and sexist language.

In one message, Chief Financial Officer Christian Sobrino writes that he is “dying to shoot” San Juan Mayor Yulin Cruz “up.”

In response, the governor wrote, “You’d be doing me a big favor.”

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, said he was “troubled” by the governor’s actions.

“Puerto Rico is much more than an island. Our blessed land continues to change the world with the arts, creativity, innovation and unbridled spirituality,” Rodriguez said in a statement shared with the Christian Post.

“Accordingly, the messages and chats emerging from the Commonwealth’s senior political leadership can best be described as reprehensible. For that matter, we, the NHCLC, hereby call upon the governor and his administration to take all the necessary steps to repair the damage and facilitate a political environment that fosters trust and serves reconciliation.

The administration is already under investigation for the spending of funds after Hurricane Maria hit the island in 2017. Earlier this month, the FBI arrested two former top officials with Rosselló’s administration.

Rosselló announced this week that he would finish his term as governor but he would not seek re-election in 2020.

Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Joe Raedle/Staff