This archive report was first published on 25 July 2019.
On July 24, 2019, Puerto Rico's embattled Governor Ricardo A. Rosselló announced his resignation, bringing an end to weeks of unprecedented protests that had gripped the island. The demonstrations, which had drawn hundreds of thousands of people from all corners of the island, were marked by a creative outpouring of dissent.
Protesters employed a wide range of tactics to express their discontent with the governor's administration, from the traditional to the unconventional. They sang and danced, performed acrobatics, and even went scuba diving to make their voices heard.
One of the most striking aspects of the protests was the use of social media to amplify the message and inspire more demonstrations. Activists and celebrities popularized hashtags like #RickyRenuncia, #RickyTeBote, #TelegramGate, #RickyLeaks, and #PuertoRicoMarcha, which quickly went viral.
Unconventional Protests ¶
From scuba diving to yoga, protesters found innovative ways to express themselves. A group of divers took their message underwater, while others practiced yoga near the governor's mansion, raising donations for a local legal defense fund and the American Civil Liberties Union.
Members of some religious communities held gatherings across the island to pray as a form of peaceful protest. A couple even protested on their wedding day, carrying a sign that read,
