Here's How Puerto Ricans Celebrated Gov. Rosselló’s Resignation

Celebrations erupt with a huge street party in Puerto Rico as embattled Gov. Rosselló announces his resignation.

Gov. Ricardo Rosselló announced late Wednesday that he will resign on Aug. 2: “My only priority has been the transformation of our island and the well-being of our people,” a shaken-looking Rosselló said in an address that listed his accomplishments before making clear he was resigning. Addressing the protests, Rosselló said, “The demands have been overwhelming and I’ve received them with highest degree of humility.”

This was the moment thousands of protesters, standing in front of the governors mansion, tonight, heard the governor say he is resigning pic.twitter.com/PhmVDGpe4A

— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) July 25, 2019

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Puerto Ricans didn’t wait long to express exactly how they felt when Gov. Ricardo Rosselló announced his resignation just before midnight on Wednesday.

Thousands of protesters outside the governor’s mansion in Old San Juan broke into song and cheers as Rosselló announced he was stepping down.

Within minutes, the streets were flooded with celebrating Puerto Ricans, with car horns blaring and fireworks exploding above their heads.

The celebration was an outpouring of relief after almost two weeks of mass protests over “Ricky Leaks,” the July 13 publication of a trove of homophobic and sexist messages between Rosselló and 11 confidants. The scandal is also known as “TelegramGate.”

Rosselló, who resisted calls for his resignation at first, announced he would step down on August 2.

“The demands have been overwhelming and I’ve received them with the highest degree of humility,” Rosselló said in a statement on Facebook Live that also included a long list of what he claimed were his administration’s accomplishments. More

Justice by the people. Viva la Puerto Rico.

Moment when Rosselló announces he is resigning. His message was playing over the speakers and quickly drowned out. pic.twitter.com/TJ5HXE7IUt

— Bianca Padró Ocasio (@BiancaJoanie) July 25, 2019

BREAKING: It is official. @ricardorossello will resign effective August 2. Protesters light fireworks, erupt in euphoric cheer. Here is the moment they find out their cries, fraught as they are, have been heard. That Ricky has resigned. #rickyrenuncia #PuertoRico pic.twitter.com/y3FYBidOGa

— Nick Brown (@NickPBrown) July 25, 2019