Jack—

Yesterday, I touched down in San Juan to stand with hundreds of thousands of protesters calling on Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló to resign. 

Thousands of people have been protesting nonstop for a week now. And the only responses they’ve gotten are dismissive platitudes from the Governor ignoring their cries for an end to corruption.

These protests are about so much more than offensive language in leaked chats. They’re about more than the Governor and his associates’ elitist attitudes. They’re about rampant corruption within Puerto Rico’s government that pretends to serve the interests of its people but instead exploits them, over and over again for profits and power. It is this blatant corruption that undermines people's faith in our democracy, our country and our values. 

Puerto Rico is an example of how decades of neglect by those in power, who put their own selfish interests ahead of the well-being of the people, and who put profits and politics ahead of the needs of its citizens, erodes faith in our democracy and causes widespread suffering. This isn’t something people only experience in Puerto Rico. Across the country, we share their sense of injustice. We know what it feels like for our voices to go unheard — in San Juan, on Wall Street and in Washington D.C.

That’s why I’m here to support the people taking action to end a multibillion-dollar corruption network involving kickbacks for lobbyists and state officials, preferential government contracts and use of public resources to do partisan work. 

I’m here to stand with my fellow Americans in Puerto Rico calling for the resignation of a corrupt Governor who has shown he is for himself, rather than for the people. I call on every Democratic candidate running for President to come here and stand with our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico against corruption.

I’m here to stand with my fellow Americans in Puerto Rico here on American soil demanding change. I stand with the people of Puerto Rico who love our country, who have sacrificed for our country and our people. Who have fought for our civil rights, and who I served alongside in Iraq. Who have put their lives on the line to serve our country. I stand with these great patriots and the people of Puerto Rico who deserve a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. 

With love of country,
Tulsi