Puerto Rico Student Strike 2010
Puerto Rico has experienced its second general strike in less than a year. The latest round of protests began in April 21, 2010 when students objected to educational budget cuts, the elimination of certain merit-based fee waivers, and privatization attempts by occupying [es] the main campus of the University of Puerto Rico in Río Piedras, San Juan.
Flag
Ten of the 11 campuses of the University of Puerto Rico -where around 62,000 students are enrolled- have joined the protest. They were supported by professors, artists, activists, intellectuals, workers, and civil society at large who eventually called for a general strike. Online citizen media has been building in importance throughout the convening of the protests, and in documenting clashes with police.
The origins of the trouble
A severe economic crisis was compounded for many citizens when Governor Luis Fortuño dismissed 20,000 civil servants in October 2009 when unemployment rates were already peaking. In March 2009, the newly elected governor pledged that his goal would be to cut $2 billion from the budget.
About Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a Spanish-speaking island in the Caribbean with four million citizens. It is a self-governing commonwealth of the United States. Puerto Ricans are subject to U.S. federal laws, but do not vote in presidential elections. News from Puerto Rico rarely reaches U.S mainstream media.
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