Revelers arrived in cars sporting the American flag and wore clothes in red, white and blue as they celebrated the anniversary of Puerto Rico’s pro-statehood political party with deafening salsa music and speeches.
Like many others worried about the U.S. territory’s future, those rallying Thursday night in the coastal town of Manati believe that statehood can help pull it out of nearly a decade of economic stagnation. “Puerto Rico has to become a state,” insisted 63-year-old celebrant Norma Candelario.
