The struggle of the Puerto Rican people has its roots in the colonialist relationship it has been forced into by the United States. This is an essential part of the vision the US had when invading in 1898 and its evolution ever since. We will cover important events and of this colonial history and how these have affected Puerto Rico, the internal resistance against imperialism, and the ultimate goal of independence. This session will be led by Rivera López. Ed. Dr. Dr. Rivera López was born, lived and worked in Puerto Rico, and has dedicated his life to the interrelated causes of labor activism in education, the struggle for the independence of Puerto Rico and cooperativism. He has been a teacher, union leader, and a leader in Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño. He is also a firm defender of Democratic Socialism as the ideological identity of the party, and an avowed believer and leader in cooperativism. After retiring in 2019, Dr. Rivera López relocated to Maryland to work as a ...