Citizen's Petition to the United States Congress
against making Spanish-only Puerto Rico America's 51st State

WHEREAS, in his book, Statehood Is for the Poor, Puerto Rico statehood leader Carlos Romero-Barcelo boasted that statehood would be a financial windfall for Puerto Rico at the expense of taxpayers in every other state; and

WHEREAS at least 80% of the residents of Puerto Rico speak little or no English; and WHEREAS, the people of Puerto Rico love their Spanish language and Puerto Rican culture the way Americans used to love their English language and American culture; and

WHEREAS, efforts to introduce English in Puerto Rico's public schools have resulted in protest marches by teachers; and

WHEREAS, given Puerto Rico's hostility to English, making Puerto Rico America's 51st state would simply mean that the United States would have its very own Quebec; and

WHEREAS, Puerto Rican nationalists tried to kill Presdient Harry Truman in 1950 and opened fire on the House of Representatives in 1954, to protest the island's lack of independence from the United States; and

WHEREAS, given the violent reaction of some Puerto Ricans to the idea of American statehood means that imposing statehood on Puerto Rico would create America's very own Northern Ireland; and

WHEREAS, the people of Puerto Rico have rejected U.S. Statehood in 1967, 1993 and 1998; and

WHEREAS legislation pending in the U.S. House of Representatives would force statehood upon the nation of Puerto Rico; and

WHEREAS the House of Representatives is limited to 435 seats, which means that a 51st state of Puerto Rico will deprive six to seven other states of at least one Congressman each; and

WHEREAS, Puerto Rico can always ask for U.S. statehood but has no right to demand it; and

WHEREAS, the American people have as much right to self-determination as do the people of Puerto Rico, including the right to reject U.S. statehood for a Spanish-only, impoverished island which covets access to the American treasury but despises America's language and culture;

This American citizen calls upon the U.S. Congress to reject statehood for Puerto Rico

Respectfully,

This petition will be delivered to the Republican National Committee by:
English First
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102
Springfield, VA 22151