Alaska became a U.S. territory and its inhabitants were recognized as U.S. citizens after the Alaska Purchase in 1867. After a difficult 92-year road to gain equal citizen rights, Alaska finally became the 49th state in 1959.
The initial territorial period in Alaska was marked by predatory exploitation of its natural resources. In 1912, an Organic Act of Congress allowed reforms in governance, but the governor remained a federal appointee, and the federal government maintained veto power over territorial issues. Subsequently, self-government slowly increased, but always short of full citizen and political rights. Alaskan voters opted for statehood in three referenda: 58 percent favoring it in 1946; 68 percent in 1956; and 83 percent in 1958.
These multiple demands for statehood by the Alaskan voters fell on deaf ears in Congress, so the territory adopted its own version of the “Tennessee Plan.” It sent a shadow congressional delegation to Congress to demand action on the statehood issue. And after almost a century, Congress finally acted to grant Alaska full rights as a member on equal footing with the contiguous 48 states.
Puerto Rico has taken a similar road, but with no conclusion yet regarding its territorial status. Spain ceded its former colony of Puerto Rico to the U.S. at the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898. Now, 120 years since, the island has become the longest-held U.S. territory in history.
The Foraker Act of 1901 granted Puerto Rico limited self-government, allowing a governor appointed by the U.S. president, a limited local House of Delegates, and full veto power by the U.S. government. Likewise, there were piecemeal additions to the local self-government: natural born U.S. citizenship in 1917; local election of the governor in 1947; a local republican-type constitution in 1952.
Then, in a 2012 referendum, 54 percent of the electorate voted to end the territorial (colonial) status, and 61 percent preferred statehood as the non-territorial status of choice. Afterwards, on June 11, 2017, the people of Puerto Rico gave statehood an overwhelming 97 percent of the vote. But, as in Alaska, these petitions by the U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico have been ignored by Congress. And just like Alaska, the government of Puerto Rico legislated last year to send a “shadow delegation” to Congress to claim action.
Regarding Puerto Rico’s territorial history, federal First Court of Appeals Judge Juan Torruella concludes: (Harvard Law Review Forum, Jan. 2018)
“The search for Puerto Rico’s equality is not a journey of original discovery requiring delving into unknown territory. In 2018, the starting point has to be the fact that we are dealing with a gross civil rights violation perpetrated for over a century against several million U.S. citizens. They have been denied equality with the rest of the nation for the absurd reason that they reside in a different geographic area than the majority of their fellow citizens.”
And Alaska’s sole congressman, U.S. Rep Don Young, accurately summarizes the situation as follows: (Congressional Record-House [H772]; March 4, 1998; United States-Puerto Rico Political Status Act)
“This is the last territory of the greatest democracy, America. A territory where no one has a true voice […] there are approximately 4 million Puerto Ricans that have one voice that cannot vote. This is not America as I know it. This is an America that talks one thing and walks another thing. This is an America that is saying […] ‘‘no’’ to who I think are some of the greatest Americans that have ever served in our armed forces and are proud to be Americans but do not have the representation that they need. This legislation is just the beginning. It is one small step of many steps. It is a step for freedom, it is a small step for justice, it is a small step for America. But collectively it is a great stride for democracy and for justice.”
It is time for Congress to act. Justice for Puerto Rico has long been overdue.
• Dr. Pedro Rosselló is a two-term former governor of Puerto Rico (1993-2001). He serves as Chairman of the Puerto Rico Shadow Congressional Delegation. He holds a Masters in Public Health, a Doctorate in Medicine, plus a Doctorate in Education.
