Tens of thousands of protesters on Monday (July 22nd) called for the departure of Puerto Rican governor Ricardo Rossello, embroiled in a scandal of homophobic rhetoric and corruption.

In a swarm of flags in the colors of the Caribbean island, US territory with special status, protesters have invaded the highway Las Americas, main artery of the capital for the largest demonstration since the beginning of the political crisis on July 13.

"Hundreds of thousands of people use their voice, it's their most important weapon," said Carmen Yulin Cruz, Democratic Mayor of San Juan.

Ricky Martin scrolls

"Ricky is not here, Ricky is selling what's left of the country," the protesters chanted, calling the governor by his nickname.

Under some showers, they were joined by several celebrities on the island including singer Ricky Martin, targeted by homophobic comments and sexist governor. Also present were rappers Residente and Bad Bunny.

That orgulloso me siento of ser puertorriqueño. That fuerza felt part of mi gente. Seguimos in the lucha hasta that @ricardorossello no gobierne mas. #resistencia 📷: @worldjunkies, @usamahamid pic.twitter.com/xZLAtL2snV

Ricky Martin (@ricky_martin) July 23, 2019

Ricardo Rossello announced Sunday night that he would not seek a new term in November 2020 and would leave the leadership of his party. "I made mistakes and apologized," he said in a video on Facebook. But his opponents denounce are refusal to resign.

Misogynous and homophobic jokes

Puerto Rico has been rocked since mid-July by revelations from the Investigative Journalism Center about the content of conversations between the governor and 11 top local officials on Telegram messaging. According to extracts published by the newspaper El Nuevo Dia, these men exchanged misogynistic jokes and homophobic comments, including targeting Ricky Martin.

"Ricardo Rossello, you're not only cynical, you're so Machiavellian," Ricky Martin wrote on social media. Other celebrities on the island, such as playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda, model Zuleyka Rivera, actor Benicio del Toro and or duo "Despacito", Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi, have shown their solidarity with the protesters .

Donald Trump gets involved

The American president Donald Trump, whose relations are very strained with Ricardo Rossello, was invited in the affair. "He's a horrible governor," he said on Monday, castigating "an even worse San Juan mayor". Carmen Yulin Cruz criticized the management of the post-Maria by the US government. "We did a great job and they do not want to give us credit," said the billionaire Republican, ensuring having "many Puerto Rican friends."

Puerto Rican justice ordered on July 10 the arrest of six officials accused of embezzling $ 15 million in federal funds for reconstruction after Hurricane Maria. But even before this destructive passage, the island was plunged into a serious financial crisis that precipitated bankruptcy in May 2017.

With AFP