Mural of the puerto rican flag painted on the side of steps in spanish harlem, nyc

New York - New York - United States

I was back home for a week for the Thanksgiving holiday and took a walk around my old neighborhood. Almost everywhere I went, there were Puerto Rican flags. Growing up I never fully understood the extreme pride and why the flag was so obnoxiously waved everywhere. It was annoying to me, to be honest. As I got older I became more aware of Puerto Rico's complicated history with the US. In 1948, Law 53, also known as the Gag Law was enacted to suppress the independence movement in Puerto Rico. The Gag Law made it a crime to display or even own a Puerto Rican flag, and to speak, write, or sing in favor of the independence movement. This law was in place for nine years and was repealed in 1957 as it was deemed unconstitutional per Article II of the Constitution of Puerto Rico and the First Amendment of the US. Imagine being a US citizen and being told that you could not wave your American flag. Imagine the outrage. There is so much undue outrage over the slightest perceived infringement as it is. Take a moment and place yourself in the position of being told this for 9 whole years. No wonder the flag waves so proudly and prominently now. My love and appreciation for that pride have grown into a pride of my own due to this.