Resolution Against Reality and Pervasiveness of Individual, Cultural and Institutional Racism in Puerto Rico

Despite the multi racial character of Puerto Rico, and despite the denial of the reality and pervasiveness of individual, cultural and institutional racism in Puerto Rico, racism, in all its manifestations is a characteristic of the capitalist colonial experience that needs to be challenged. In order to dismantle racist ideology and structure in Puerto Rico, social, political and cultural organizations must recognize its reality and the negative effects it has on important segments of our population.

Therefore, this PMA agrees that:

• We need to face individual, cultural and institutional racism, its connections to Puerto Ricos colonial situation, and we as a collective of individuals and organizations challenge ourselves to:
• Examine, explore and challenge the racism that exist within our institutions
• To study the impact of institutional racism in our economic system, our judicial system, our educational system, our health system, the media and other strategic areas of Puerto Rican society,
• Explore how can we end racial discrimination against people of African descent in Puerto Rico, and against immigrants from our neighboring Caribbean nations who live in Puerto Rico,
• Understand that in order to become a free, sovereign nation we need to begin building anti-racist initiatives and liberating spaces in our movement,
• Therefore be it resolved that we will commit ourselves and our organization to combat racism in our institutional spaces and in society.