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Protesters March in Puerto Rican City of Ponce as Governor Refuses to Resign

Protests continued in Puerto Rico on Tuesday, July 16, in the wake of a private-messaging scandal that has engulfed Governor Ricardo Rosselló.

The protests were sparked by leaked chat logs involving the governor, which were published by the Center for Investigative Journalism.

The messages included misogynistic and homophobic slurs, discussion of strategies on how to quell journalists and investigators unfavorable to Rosselló’s administration, and jokes about Hurricane Maria, the Center for Investigative Journalism in Puerto Rico reported. The outlet initially broke the story, sharing conversations from a Telegram chat.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Rosselló said he would not resign over the messages, a move that did not impress those who have taken to the streets.

This video shows protesters marching past the Parque Urbano Dora Colón Clavell in Ponce on Tuesday. Protesters in the capital, San Juan, clashed with police on Monday. However, local media reported that demonstrations on Tuesday were peaceful. More demonstrations are expected on Wednesday. Credit: @carlacamach0 via Storyful