Police Violence During 2019 Protests (Verano del 19)

The summer 2019 protests (Verano del 19) that led to Governor Ricardo Rosselló's resignation on August 2, 2019 were among the most significant mass mobilizations in Puerto Rican history. They were sparked by the leak of a private Telegram chat revealing Rosselló and his inner circle making misogynistic, homophobic, and mocking remarks — including jokes about Hurricane María victims.

But the protests quickly evolved beyond the chat scandal into a broader reckoning with colonial governance, corruption, and the fiscal control board. At their peak, an estimated 500,000 people marched — roughly one-sixth of Puerto Rico's population.

Police Response: On several occasions, riot police attacked peaceful protesters:
- July 17: Tear gas deployed on the expreso Las Américas against protesters blocking the highway
- July 22: Riot police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters near La Fortaleza (governor's mansion)
- Multiple incidents of journalists being targeted with tear gas and pepper spray
- ACLU of Puerto Rico documented excessive use of force

The protests were remarkable for their diversity and creativity: they included horse riders, kayakers, reggaetoneros (Bad Bunny, Residente, iLe performed), religious leaders, union workers, and diaspora Puerto Ricans who flew to the island to participate.

Rosselló's resignation marked the first time a Puerto Rican governor was forced from office by popular protest. The movement demonstrated that even under colonial rule, Puerto Ricans retained the power to hold their own leaders accountable — even if they could not vote for the ultimate authority (the U.S. Congress) that governed them.