DNC Chair Tom Perez Endorses Statehood for Puerto Rico [View all]

Tom Perez, the Chair of the Democratic National Committee, has endorsed statehood for Puerto Rico.

As first reported in Politico, Perez has issued a statement that he believes Puerto Ricans should have the same rights as those on the mainland and that his personal view is that statehood is the best method to provide full representation in government and equal rights.

Perez, who is the first Latino elected chairman of the DNC, has two siblings who were born in Puerto Rico.

The Perez statement is consistent with the 2016 Democratic Party platform, which recognizes that many of the challenges facing the U.S. territory “stem from the fundamental question of Puerto Rico’s political status.” The platform further recognizes that “Puerto Ricans should be able to vote for the people who make their laws, just as they should be treated equally. All American citizens, no matter where they reside, should have the right to vote for the President of the United States.”

Read more: http://www.puertoricoreport.com/dnc-chair-tom-perez-endorses-statehood/