Puerto Ricans waved flags and danced to thumping drum beats Thursday as they celebrated word that their governor will resign over derogatory comments he and aides made about women, gays and hurricane victims. After staying up to welcome Ricardo Rossello's midnight announcement on Facebook that he would step down, hundreds headed into the streets of downtown San Juan - the latest demonstration capping two weeks of popular anger against the 40-year old leader of the US territory in the Caribbean.
Only this time, rather than pressing him to go, the activists' theme was "thanks for leaving, Ricky," a commentator on newspaper El Nuevo Dia's web page said as she covered a crowd gathering for the rally. This is the first time that a leader of Puerto Rico has pledged to step down prematurely. "I announce that I will be resigning from the governor's post effective Friday, August 2 at 5 pm," Rossello said, in a video statement posted on the government's Facebook page.
Puerto Ricans had gathered at the gates of the governor's mansion, known as La Fortaleza, in San Juan, ahead of the rumored announcement. Local celebrities, including pop star Ricky Martin and trap musician Benito Martinez - known by the stage name Bad Bunny - have been leading support for the protests.