🎙️ WHY HISTORY MATTERS: OLD LAWS. PRESENT POWER.

Why do we keep talking about Puerto Rican history? Because decisions made generations ago continue to shape our rights, our government, and our lives today.

In this radio-style podcast, we examine how Renée Good’s family is invoking surviving provisions of the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871 in its pursuit of accountability—and how the Trump administration has invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to justify immigration enforcement actions.

We then bring the discussion home to Puerto Rico. From the displacement of our autonomous government in 1898 to the fiscal restrictions imposed through PROMESA in 2016, we explore who holds ultimate authority over our elected institutions.

The lawsuits contain allegations that must be tested in court. The historical comparison raises a question that deserves public discussion: How secure is Puerto Rico’s self-government when Washington can reshape its authority without requiring approval from Puerto Rican voters?

For those who criticize us for discussing history, this is a prime example of why history matters.

💬 Join the conversation: What does PROMESA reveal about the limits of Puerto Rico’s self-government?

👍 Like, share, and subscribe to help us continue this conversation.

🔗 CONNECT WITH US

📱 Puerto Rico: Open Your Eyes app Access our content and available platform links: https://app.puertoricoabranlosojos.com/

🇵🇷🇪🇸 The National Puerto Rico & Spain Initiative https://tnprsi.org/

🗳️ Partido Autonomista Puertorriqueño https://partidoautonomistapuertoriqueno.com/

📚 SOURCES AND FURTHER READING

Renée Good’s family attorneys — Lawsuit announcement: https://www.rblaw.net/pressrelease-civil-lawsuits-united-states-individual-federal-agents-officials-death-renee-good

U.S. House of Representatives — Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871: https://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1851-1900/hh_1871_04_20_KKK_Act/

42 U.S.C. § 1985 — Conspiracy to interfere with civil rights: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/1985

White House — Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/invocation-of-the-alien-enemies-act-regarding-the-invasion-of-the-united-states-by-tren-de-aragua/

PROMESA — Authority and autonomy of the Oversight Board: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/48/2128

PROMESA — Approval of budgets: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/48/2142

#PuertoRico #OpenYourEyes #WhyHistoryMatters #PROMESA #CivilRights #ReneeGood #PuertoRicanHistory #GovernmentAccountability