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[VIDEO] Puerto Rico airport blocked on morning of national strike

By on May 1, 2017

CAROLINA – Ahead of what is expected to be a massive demonstration Monday by supporters of multiple Puerto Rico student and worker groups, the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in Carolina had its entrances blocked by protesters, resulting in heavy traffic on Baldorioty de Castro Avenue.

People shared images and videos on social media that showed protesters, many of whom were had their faces covered, and passengers having to walk with their luggage to the airport terminals from the avenue.

Puerto Rico protesterAttorney Alvin Cuoto, who will participate in the different events Monday as an observer, interviewed several students at the airport in a live broadcast from his Facebook account.

See also: High hopes for a ‘historic May 1 for Puerto Rico’

“We are here, we will resist, we don’t want a confrontation. We are in the best disposition to negotiate with guards because we believe we have another demonstration to attend,” said one of the protesters, who added the demonstration is a message to urge people to mobilize in Monday’s demonstrations in the Hato Rey sector’s banking district.

“The goal of this demonstration is not to close the airport, the goal, we were told, is to start creating the conditions for this fight to be internationalized, to be let known outside the country that this struggle is happening right now,” Couto said on his social media page, which was broadcast on the  Radio Isla 1320 station.

Chief of Staff William Villafañe (Juan J. Rodríguez / CB)

Chief of Staff William Villafañe (Juan J. Rodríguez / CB)

La Fortaleza Chief of Staff  William Villafañe said that blocking the entrance and exit of Puerto Rico’s main airport “is a strategic error.”

The official also said the majority of citizens do not support this type of demonstration, because he believes “what it does is earn the rejection of the Puerto Rican people,” and assured authorities will intervene with protesters because blocking the airport is a violation of federal law.

“One thing is to demonstrate and another thing is to obstruct the flow of passengers who will soon be boarding flights in order to travel. In that regard, it is an act of confrontation that forces the authorities to take action,” he said.

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