Key Biscayne Resident Cheers Puerto Rico Protests

A protestor lays out flowers in San Juan as a sign of opposition to Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló, July 25, 2019. The governor announced his resignation after mass demonstations after publication of an obscenity-laced chat (Key News via Catherine Morales)

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló says he is resigning effective Aug. 2 in the face of public furor over an obscenity-laced online chat that showed the governor and close advisers insulting women and mocking constituents including the victims of Hurricane Maria.

Key Biscayne resident Jane Morales’ family is on the island. They joined the tens of thousands that took to the streets in protest.

“It’s exploded, and the people said ‘no more,” she said. “This is something that has been going on for years, these governors have come into power, backed by millionaires.”

The 40-year-old Rosselló is the first governor to resign in the modern history of Puerto Rico, a territory of 3.2 million U.S. citizens that is mired in a 13-year recession and still recovering from the Category 4 hurricane two years ago.

Public outrage over the leaked chats and federal corruption charges against former government officials sparked massive demonstrations across San Juan in the largest protest movement on the island since Puerto Ricans successfully marched to demand an end to U.S. Navy military training on the island of Vieques more than 15 years ago.

Justice Secretary Wanda Vázquez will become the new governor.

Morales says she is hopeful the widespread protests will serve as the basis for a political transformation in Puerto Rico.

“People need a reset,” she said. “Resigning will not solve the problem, this is the beginning of figuring out what can be done.

Key News’ Tony Winton contributed to this report.