Much of the Young Lords’ success came from their innate ability to provide hands-on community service programs while also doing attention-grabbing acts of civil disobedience.
Residents of the U.S. territories were categorized as “sort of” Americans by the Supreme Court, which has led to their continued exploitation and neglect.
The introduction of the Puerto Rico Status Act acknowledges the history of colonization against the island and sets a path for radically shifting the island’s relationship with the U.S.