An amendment that would have eliminated the right to bail for people accused of certain types of crimes was defeated by 55%-45%, and an amendment to reduce the size of Puerto Rico’s government was defeated by a vote of 54%-46%.

Leading up to the August 19 vote, the mass media’s polls indicated that the two referendums were likely to pass. Alejandro García Padilla of the Popular Democratic Party, who is running against Fortuño for governor in November, also campaigned for a 'yes' vote on the amendments. But a strong grassroots movement was built urging a no vote as a vote to protect people’s basic rights.

The amendment that would have eliminated the ability of people accused of certain crimes to have the right to bail was pitched as a conservative ‘tough on crime’ measure, but its rejection indicates that Puerto Ricans saw it as connected to the recently-passed penal code reforms that were also spun as ‘tough on crime’ measures but were aimed clearly at restricting people’s rights, such as the right to protest and disagree with the government. The other defeated amendment would have reduced the size of Puerto Rico’s legislature, another cause championed by Governor Fortuño.

#PuertoRico #Repression #2012RepublicanNationalConvention #LuisFortuño

The new law includes restrictions on freedom of assembly and expression that criminalize many forms of protest. The law criminalizes, with a mandatory 3 year jail sentence, any protest that might “perturb, interrupt or impede” politicians, or “any disorder” around them. The law also prohibits protests in schools, universities and health institutions that “obstruct the providing of services or access.” This is clearly targeted at criminalizing anything like the 2010 student strike at the University of Puerto Rico or actions to defend public services that are threatened by budget cuts and austerity. Violations of this law mean 6 months in jail and/or a $5000 fine.

Puerto Rican Governor Fortuño is with the New Progressive Party (PNP) of Puerto Rico. Since Puerto Rico is a colony (“commonwealth”) of the U.S., politicians there can also be affiliated with U.S. parties; Fortuño is also a member of the U.S.’s Republican Party and a member of the Republican National Committee, the leadership body of the Republican Party. He will be a featured speaker at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida in late August along with other controversial right wing politicians such as Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. There will be large protests outside the Republican National Convention, centered by a mass march on August 27.

#PuertoRico #InJusticeSystem #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #civilLiberties #Repression #ACLU #antiimperialism #colonialism #LuisFortuño