Puerto Ricans, Si! Other Latinos, Si!

“Puerto Ricans, whether they live on the island or in the U.S., are American citizens. How might they relate to the issue of immigration? It’s complicated, and to understand it better, the Progreso Latino Fund of the Community Foundation held a forum Tuesday night at the Blake Street Café, moderated by consultant and former TV reporter Diane Alverio (pictured). Solidarity reigned, more or less.

Puerto Ricans became U.S. citizens under the Jones Act of 1917, after which they could be conveniently drafted to fight in World War I. Over the years about half the population of the island migrated to the U.S. mainland – all without the need for papers. But they faced discrimination just like all previous immigrants. One group that sprang up to address that was the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, which has been defending the rights of Puerto Ricans in the U.S. since 1972. One of its founders, and current president, Cesar Perales, was a panelist (pictured on the right, with fellow panelist Philip Berns on the left).”

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