Puerto Rico is a large island in the carribean archipelago, and a US ‘territory’ with a population of 3.2 million people. It is a US ‘territory’ i.e. colony’ as it is frequently described by activists, for it has little democratic say in the running of the USA, receives substantially lower funding than that of the Mainland, and much of its wealth and populace are exploited by offshore corporations. Corporations such as the MirRam group, a political lobbying company run by the father of none other than Hamilton star Lin Manuel Miranda.
Miranda has recently locked his twitter account after being called out for his portrayal of slave owners as ‘heroes’ and use of racial slurs, but this only scratches the surface of his actions.
Lin’s father, Luis, has repeatedly used his son's political influence as a prominent celebrity Puerto Rican to facilitate his corporate neo-colonial takeover of the island.
LMM publicly lobbied for the ‘Promesa bill’, a 2006 bill that essentially stripped PRs public services bare, leading to the closure of over 200 public schools, public healthcare facilities and national parks. This allowed the corporations that Lin’s father supports in Washington to step in, and replace these previously free services, and begin exploiting both the people and environment of the island for financial gain.
This is just one example of how Miranda has used his fame and influence on the public and Obama administration to further shackle his home territory, but the list goes on far longer than both Lin, and his father, would like to admit.
What can you do? Unfollow Miranda on all platforms and reduce his platform that supports the imprisonment and exploitation of yet another american colony. Remove any financial support you previously had for his creations, and most importantly - educate yourself, and others on the struggle for Puerto Rican independence.
Alfie Davis
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