Puerto Rico is inching closer to defaulting on its $72 billion debt. The country missed a debt payment yesterday. This comes as no surprise since governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla, announced last month that there’s no way Puerto Rico can pay. The governor has already announced further austerity measures – he’s calling it a “consensual adjustment” plan — but refuses to name the Creditors who are making these demands.
Meanwhile in the United States, Democratic Senators have introduced a bill to allow Puerto Rico to go into bankruptcy.
As the government prepares to implement further austerity measures, people are once again mobilizing. With the country’s economic unraveling, they’re turning to each other for solutions.
Guests:
- Rafael Bernabe, Professor at the University of Puerto Rico and author of Puerto Rico in the American Century. He also ran for governor with the Working People’s Party in 2012.
- Marina Reyes Franco, independent curator based in Puerto Rico
It’s been less than a year since 26-year old O’Shaine Evans was shot and killed by San Francisco police officers outside of AT&T Park. Since his death, his mother, Angela Nage and sister, Cadine Williams have become a regular presence at protests and rallies — speaking out against police violence, supporting other family members, and searching for answers. Now, they’re preparing to celebrate his birthday – he would have turned 27 this Monday.
Guests:
- Angela Naggie, O’Shaine Evans’ mother
- Cadine Williams, O’Shaine Evans’ sister