On Saturday, September 22, 2018, more than 1,000 people
descended on West Palm Beach, #1YearAfterMaria took the lives of almost 3,000 Puerto
Ricans and left the island in devastation. Those
present included members of the diaspora, displaced families from Puerto Rico
(PR), and allies from all over Florida. The event was held as part of #BoricuasRemember
week of action in remembrance of the 1 year anniversary since Category 4
Hurricane Maria crossed the center of the island. (Puerto Ricans also refer to
themselves as Boricuas and to the island as Borinquen in honor of their
indigenous ancestry). The events in Florida were led by Alianza for Progress
and Power 4 Puerto Rico Coalition, with support from many allies, including
Sierra Club.
Photo credit: Diana Umpierre
The day started
with a caravan of dozens of vehicles
that departed from Hollywood, FL, drove north along I-95, under police-escort,
and eventually by Mar-a-Lago, President’s Trump so-called southern “White
House”, where they loudly honked their horns and proudly waved Puerto Rican
flags. Cars and trucks were also decorated with symbols of the coqui (a tiny
frog native to Puerto Rico) and painted messages such as “Boricuas Vota!” to
encourage their fellow US citizens from Puerto Rico to vote. Sierra Club organizing representative Diana
Umpierre, of Puerto Rican descent, and her son were among those in the caravan.
Her car, photographed while driving in front of Mar-a-Lago, was featured on the
Sunday cover of Palm Beach Daily News. (Video of caravan starts at 3:18)
Caravan ("Caravana") ready to cross the bridge towards Mar-a-Lago
Photo credit: Diana Umpierre
The event was followed by a rally near Mar-a-Lago, at Meyer Amphitheatre, with brief statements from Maria survivors, members
of the diaspora and elected officials that included US Congressman Darren Soto
and FL House Representative Robert Asencio (both of Puerto Rican descent), as
well as FL Senator José Javier Rodríguez, US Senator Bill Nelson and
Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum. The
rally featured musical performances by Puerto Rican artists including Frankie
Negrón, Lunna, and Danny Rivera Jr (son of the late and legendary singer,
songwriter & activist Danny Rivera). The crowd also sang and danced to the
sound of tambores, maracas, panderetas and güiros (typical instruments on the
island). Sierra Club handed out close to
50 mini Puerto Rican flags and signs that featured photos taken by Diana Umpierre during her recent trip
to areas in PR that are still trying to recover.
As expected, there
was also a small contingent of Trump supporters that showed up and were
peacefully challenged by attendees (see video). Among those that challenged them was Sierra Club organizing representative
Gonzalo Valdes, who went in front of a Trump banner with a Sierra
Club-branded sign asking for clean, reliable, renewable energy for Puerto Rico.
Gonzalo Valdes holds a Sierra-branded sign in front of a Trump banner.
Photo credit: Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida - Palm Beach County
Diana Umpierre also spoke to the
crowd about Sierra’s mission and the need for Puerto Rico to have a future
based on safe, reliable, clean renewable energy. She talked about her cousin in
Caguas, where the eye of hurricane went through, who still has a blue tarp for
a roof and the plight of a very low-income community in Naguabo that has
received very little help from FEMA and is hoping for windows and doors for the
many abandoned homes. She shared how the Trump administration, with its climate
denial, hurts Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is still in shambles and has an
unreliable, unsafe energy infrastructure they cannot depend on. They are not ready for another tropical
storm, and they were certainly not even ready when Maria came.
Photo credit: David McDougal
Baby Trump made its Florida debut at the West Palm Beach rally. Needless to
say, he was a hit! Baby Trump is a 20-foot-high balloon, inspired by our
friends in the UK, characterizing the petulant and juvenile nature of Donald
Trump. It is one of six Baby Trumps that are on a tour organized by People’s
Motorcade. Trump has been criticized for his condescending treatment of the
Puerto Rican people. Just a few days before the 1-year anniversary, Trump went
on to Twitter to claim that the nearly 3,000 lives lost was a made-up number to
make him look bad for political reasons. To Puerto Ricans that lost loved ones
and know of the suffering still going on due to the aftermath left by Maria,
his remarks are adding insult to injury. That count of 2,975 deaths was
officially adopted by the Puerto Rican government based on a detailed study by George Washington
University.
Sierra Club
Loxahatchee Group members with Baby Trump
Photo credit: Alyssa Cadwalader
Photo credit: Alyssa Cadwalader
The event ended
with a vigil organized by Faith in Florida. Faith leaders led the audience in moments of reflection and prayers
for the families of the lives lost and those that are still suffering.
Photo credit: Alianza for Progress
The event was
covered by a multitude of news outlets worldwide, including spanish-speaking
news media. These included: teleSUR, Metro Puerto Rico, Global News (Canada), The Journal (Colorado), NewsTube/ Ruptly (Russia), WTHR Channel 13 (Indianapolis), El Nuevo Día, Sun-Sentinel, Palm Beach Daily News, Palm Beach Post, Miami-Herald, El Nuevo Herald, Associated Press (AP) News, Washington Post, Huffington Post, New York Times, US News & World Report, ABC 10,
CBS 12 WPEC, WPBF
25 News, FOX 35 WOFL, WPTV Channel 5, NBC 6.
Note: Story written by Diana Umpierre, Sierra Club
Everglades Restoration organizer, with contributions from
Gonzalo Valdes, Sierra Club Beyond Coal organizer. Both are of Puerto Rican
descent.
Other Event Photos &
Videos
Photo credit: Gonzalo Valdes
Members of the
Haitian community (Family Action Network Movement, FANM)
Photo credit: David McDougal
Members of the
Florida Immigration Coalition, FLIC
Photo credit: David McDougal
Vigil/ prayer
service in remembrance of the thousands of lives lost.
Photo credit: Marcos Vilar
Diana Umpierre holds photos she
took during her July visit to Puerto Rico, nearly #1YearAfterMaria.
Photo credit: Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida - Palm Beach
County
Photo credit: David McDougal
Photo credit: David McDougal
Photo credit: Gonzalo Valdes
Too Many "Se Vende" (For Sale) signs in Puerto Rico, signs of a struggling economy.
Photo credit: Gonzalo Valdes
Photo credit: Gonzalo Valdes
Tallahassee Mayor
Gillum (at microphone) and US Rep. Darren Soto (holding the PR flag) delivered
words in support of the Puerto Rican community.
Photo credit: David McDougal
US Senator Bill
Nelson and US Rep. Darren Soto
Photo credit: David McDougal
Photo credit: Gonzalo Valdes
Photo credit: Diana Umpierre
Photo credit: Gonzalo Valdes
Photo credit: Gonzalo Valdes
Photo credit: Gonzalo Valdes