Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden smiles at a campaign event at the William “Hicks” Anderson Community Center in Wilmington, Del., Tuesday, July 28, 2020.(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
During this historic moment when the political future of Puerto Rico continues to be debated both on the island and within the federal spheres of Washington, D.C., upon deep reflection I could not pass up on this opportunity to share my political experience not only as a current Presidential Delegate for Joe Biden in Puerto Rico but also as a Puerto Rican who also serves within the United States Army Reserve. As a territorial delegate, I do not enjoy the right to the presidential vote, with the exception of being able to vote in the Democratic Convention while I reside in Puerto Rico. Because of this, I fight every day for the equality of the entire 3.2 million American citizens who live in Puerto Rico.
In 2017, I had the opportunity to attend the first presentation of Joe Biden’s book Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship and Purpose in New York City, where the Vice President described how the passing of his beloved son Beau helped him find his purpose in life in the middle of such tragic adversity while still finding a way to move forward.
That night, I had the privilege of being within a small group who would receive an autographed copy of his book, a photo and an exchange of words with the former Vice President of the United States.
I must confess how nervous I was, but finally my turn had arrived. My first words were: “Mr. Vice President, my name is Anthony Carrillo, I live in Puerto Rico, am currently a Lieutenant in the Army Reserve and I want to thank you for your son Beau. Like he was, I am also a military JAG attorney and his history of service inspired me to enter that career within the armed forces. The Vice President immediately lowered his head and I noticed a somber and nostalgic look on his face.
He looked at me and responded, “No son, thank you for your service.”
I then told him, “Sir, as opposed to Beau, I unfortunately cannot vote for my Commander-in-Chief while I live in Puerto Rico. Our people on the island need your support to make Puerto Rico a state.”
He looked at me and said, “I am all in for that.”
Lastly, I told him, “Mr. Vice President, in the United States we
need you back in the White House and if you decide to run, we will have your back.” He looked at me smiling and said: “Thanks, son.”
Those were his final words of our conversation.
Anthony Carrillo with Joe Biden (Photo provided by Anthony Carrillo)
Recently, during the funeral service for Congressman John Lewis, while speaking about the American citizens in Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., President Obama expressed “that all American citizens should have equal representation in our government.” That equal representation and aspiration of President Obama, of which Congressman Lewis also supported, can only be reached through statehood for Puerto Rico.
As a Puerto Rican, I will soon be proudly casting my vote as member of the elected Puerto Rico territorial delegation for Joe Biden during the Democratic National Convention, the only opportunity I have to participate in the selection of the next nominee for President of the United States.
I will never forget my conversation with Biden, and as he told me that unforgettable night in the city of New York, I trust that as President he will firmly support statehood for Puerto Rico just as President Obama recently had expressed. At the end, it is what Congressman Lewis would have desired as yet another chapter of his life-long battle for the civil rights of all American citizens in our Nation.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The views presented are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Government of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) or its components. Appearance of DoD visual information or external hyperlinks does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
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Attorney Anthony Carrillo Filomeno is the Co-Founder and former Chairman of the Young Democrats of America Hispanic Caucus, a former Clinton 2016 Millennial Council Youth Vote Advisor and a Puerto Rico Presidential Delegate for Joe Biden.
Puerto Rico is a colony of the United States plain and simple, this is the issue that needs to be addressed. Giving Puerto Rican people the right to vote for the President of the US does not resolve that issue.
The UN has for the 38th consecutive year come out with a declaration supporting Puerto Rico’s right to self determination. It did not say Puerto Ricans have the right to decide if they want to continue to be a colony of the US. That’s like saying to a slave that he/she has the right to be a slave. The UN did not say-yes let Puerto Rico be absorbed by the American empire, they said Puerto Rico has the right to be free and colonialism, just like slavery, is a crime.
Why can’t the democrats see that? And why do supporters of statehood want to fool democrats like former President Obama and former Vice President Biden into thinking they should support statehood when statehood supporters have fought against most of the social justice issues the democrats have supported. Progressive democrats like Alexandria Ocasio Cortez must see through this farce of statehood and come out in full support of the right of the people of Puerto Rico to self determination.
Just like John Lewis, Martin Luther King and the other martyrs of the Civil Rights movement Puerto Ricans that support independence have had their share of social justice battles and martyrs. Supporters of independence have fought for workers rights and unions, womens empowerment, environmental protection, social justice, an economy that works for the majority and not the wealthy few, local economic development, higher taxes for foreign corporations, solidarity with the discriminated African-American and Latino communities, and have been early supporters of marriage equality.
The supporters of statehood on the other hand have historically and to this day supported the most extreme right wing policies of the Republican party. Statehood supporters are consistently on the side of President Trump and support his anti-Latino agenda.
Puerto Rico has the right to be free and every social justice activist and freedom loving person must support Puerto Rico’s right to self determination.
Just remember my friend that independence is supported by less than 6% of Puerto Ricans. You cannot impose what a minority group wants.
Mr. Colon, Jr. I’m sure you know here are many reasons for that figure, but my point is this: Progressives, and i include democrats, should be consistent in their positions meaning that they should support other progressives and the independence movement is a progressive movement. It may not be the flavor of the month but the point is that it’s the right position to support. #BlackLivesMatter was not supported by thousands even though African-Americans were being lynched for ages. It took one action for the movement to take hold. Statehood is not a progressive movement and “progressives” should not support statehood.
Abolition was not supported by a majority either.
Let me clarify a few points: 1. The referred to U.N. resolutions are resolutions that passed its ‘Decolonization’ Committee but did not pass the next committee of jurisdiction nor the General Assembly. 2. The General Assembly has adopted a resolution defining the three statuses which can decolonize a territory: independence is one but statehood is another. The third is nationhood in an association with the U.S. that either nation could end. 3. Yes, the current unincorporated territory/possession status (colony, if you will) does not qualify. 4. It is certainly progressive for U.S. Democrats to support or be open to statehood for a U.S. territory – i.e. equality within the U.S. if that is what a majority of the people of the islands – Americans in law – want. 5. I have not heard any say Puerto Rico shouldn’t become a nation if that is what a majority want. (I am referring to recent decades, not the distant past.) 6. The U.S. has laws on the books 1) saying that the territory is entitled to the status it wants (so long as that is a real status) and 2) providing for a plebiscite on possible statuses. Both laws were proposed by Democrats and approved by a Congresses with Republican majorities. 7. Advocates of statehood in Puerto Rico range from conservative Republicans to Sanders supporters. Puerto Rican politics isn’t conducted on U.S. Democratic vs. Republican or U.S. liberal or progressive vs. moderate vs. conservativelines.
[…] will see a serious push for statehood for Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Biden supports both. Biden does not support expanding the size of the Supreme Court or eliminating the Electoral […]
[…] a serious push for statehood for Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Biden supports both. Biden does not support expanding the size of the Supreme Court or eliminating the Electoral […]