La Mano de Washington

<p><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>For over 120 years Puerto Rico has lived under the control of the United States yet it has no vote in Congress no say in presidential elections and no path to true self determination. Why?</strong></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>In </span><em style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>La Mano de Washington: How U.S. Presidents Failed Puerto Rico</em><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)> </span><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Alex Alicea</strong><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)> exposes the long and often hidden history of how U.S. presidents both Democrat and Republican have </span><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>neglected exploited and undermined</strong><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)> the island since 1898.</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>From </span><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>the Spanish American War</strong><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)> to </span><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Hurricane María</strong><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)> from </span><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Woodrow Wilson's citizenship for war policy</strong><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)> to </span><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Trump's paper towel moment</strong><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)> this powerful book walks readers through every major administration and the </span><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>decisions that kept Puerto Rico in political limbo</strong><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>. With vivid storytelling and plain language Alex Alicea tries to breaks down complex topics like the </span><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Jones Act</strong><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)> </span><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>PROMESA</strong><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)> </span><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>the Puerto Rican debt crisis</strong><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)> and the </span><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>gag laws</strong><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)> that criminalized independence.</span></p>