Puerto Rico’s Stolen Government

Today, Puerto Rico Open Your Eyes presents a special episode with a very special guest: José G. Poventud a Puerto Rican community activist, United States Navy veteran, and independent historical researcher committed to recovering Puerto Rico’s political history before 1898.

Host Edwin Ortiz and José examine a question every Puerto Rican deserves to ask:

What government did Puerto Rico possess before the United States invaded, and why were so many of us never taught about it?

The conversation follows Puerto Rico’s political development through its municipal governments, Ramón Power y Giralt, representation in the Spanish Cortes, the Constitution of Cádiz of 1812, and the abolitionist and autonomist movements.

That struggle culminated in the Autonomous Charter o ...