Thread by @DavidBegnaud

People in #PuertoRico, who want statehood, have been promised it for yrs. There have been multiple plebiscites where statehood won, but it was non-binding so it went nowhere.
They’ve been promised statehood by governors, & past presidents.
Even statehood supporters are suspicious

When I first went to Puerto Rico...to cover hurricane Maria...I thought: of course they need to be a state because they need the same resources and as other states. They are not treated equally. Then, I filmed a documentary in PR & met with people who don’t want to be a state.

I listened. A lot.
There are many people on the island who want something other than statehood.
Some: continued commonwealth. Some redefined relationship with the U.S.. Others, independence.

But, as it stands now, the majority party in the legislature is for statehood.
The Governor is a member of the statehood party.
They want statehood badly.
The reality is President Trump doesn’t favor it. Neither does the majority leader Mitch McConnell.

It’ll go no where as long as Trump is President. Having said that, a change in administrations could be the game changer that statehood supporters need. More people are paying attention now to Puerto Rico than ever before, arguably. And well they should.

It’s a beautiful island with phenomenal people who’ve served alongside U.S. in wartime and died for a country that taxes them but doesn’t afford them equal representation. If you live in a state, think about how long you’d be OK with that.

I would never project to know what is best for Puerto Rico or what should happen. May the will of the majority be done.