Up to 1 million people could take part in Puerto Rico protests

Hundreds of thousands took to the streets across Puerto Rico to protest Governor Ricardo Rosselló's decision not to resign his post, despite announcing that he would not seek re-election and would step down as the leader of his party.

There are estimates that the already-massive protests could reach up to 1 million participants, which is a little less than one-third of the territory's total population. For some perspective on the sheer size of the demonstrations — which have shut down a major highway and caused vacation cruises to cancel port stops — check out the crowds from above.

Wow. Puerto Rico.
You don’t get this perspective from the ground.
They are Loud.
Determined.
United. pic.twitter.com/3JMmbc8NY2

— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) July 22, 2019

The marchers have been calling for Rosselló's resignation for days, after a private chat with some of his aides was leaked, revealing profanity-laced homophobic and misogynistic messages. Several of Rosselló's former administration officials are also currently embroiled in a corruption scandal, which has not helped his standing.

The protests have received support from baseball players, singers, and presidential candidates, but not everyone is satisfied with the amount of traction the demonstrations have gained beyond Puerto Rico's shores.

If this mobilization, NATIONAL STRIKE, with over 500K people would be happening in any of the 50 states, this would be everywhere, in every news feed and front page. But it's in colonial #PuertoRico and the silence and lack of solidarity it's strident. #ParoNacional https://t.co/QtaZsHQFou

— Samy Nemir-Olivares (@Samynemir) July 22, 2019