Puerto Rico’s history is marked by a struggle for autonomy that stretches back centuries. Influenced by the French Revolution and independence movements in Latin America, Puerto Ricans increasingly challenged Spanish rule throughout the 1800s. Their efforts culminated in a hard-won concession from Spain in 1898—a grant of autonomy. However, this glimmer of self-determination was short-lived, as the swift conclusion of the Spanish-American War led to the island’s annexation by the United States. Under US governance, nationalist movements gained momentum, fueled by a desire to continue the efforts toward independence and address social and economic inequities.

The Ponce Massacre of March 21, 1937 stands as a testament to the lengths to which the US government was willing to go to suppress nationalist movements on the island. A peaceful march was organized to commemorate the abolition of enslavement and to protest the imprisonment of Pedro Albizu Campos (the president of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party and a fierce advocate for independence). However, despite the peaceful nature of the protest, the police unleashed violence, and the brutality resulted in the deaths of 19 demonstrators, with over 200 others wounded. Such events have deeply impacted Puerto Ricans’ relationship with US rule over the years, and internal divisions regarding its sovereignty persist, reflecting the complex colonial history behind the island’s relationship with the United States.