The US territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, the US Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa, are home to over 4 million American citizens who do not have equal voting rights. Despite being US citizens, they cannot vote for president, have limited representation in Congress, and face restrictions on their rights due to outdated laws. The Insular Cases, a series of Supreme Court decisions from the early 20th century, have been used to justify these restrictions, citing that the territories are inhabited by "alien races" that may not be able to understand Anglo-Saxon laws. However, this reasoning is based on racist and condescending assumptions. The video highlights the struggles of these territories, including limited access to healthcare and education, and the fact that many veterans from these territories are not treated equally. The speaker argues that it is time to update these laws and ensure that all American citizens, regardless of where they live, have equal voting rights and access to the same opportunities.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Yesterday marked the 50th anniversary of the first Selma March, a pivotal moment in the fight for voting rights.
2. The Voting Rights Act was passed 50 years ago, but voting rights are still an issue in the United States.
3. Many Americans face obstacles to voting, including restrictive voter ID laws.
4. Citizens of US island territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands, do not have equal voting rights.
5. Over 4 million people live in US territories, and more than 98% of them are racial or ethnic minorities.
6. The Insular Cases, a series of Supreme Court decisions from the early 20th century, restricted the application of the US Constitution to island territories.
7. Justice Henry Billings Brown, who wrote the lead decision in the Insular Cases, also wrote the "separate but equal" decision in Plessy v. Ferguson.
8. American citizens living in US island territories do not have the right to vote for president.
9. Puerto Rico has more American citizens than 21 US states, but its residents do not have full voting rights.
10. The delegate from Puerto Rico in Congress cannot vote.
11. Guam has a higher percentage of veterans than any US state, but its residents do not have full voting rights.
12. In 2012, Guam ranked last in per-capita spending on medical care by the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
13. American Samoans are not automatically granted US citizenship, despite being born on US soil.
14. American Samoa is home to the top Army recruiting station in the country, but its residents do not have the right to vote for president.
15. Many veterans from American Samoa carry a special passport that indicates they are not US citizens, but rather "US nationals."
16. Five American Samoans are suing the US government to change the rule that denies them citizenship.
17. The Obama administration has fought this lawsuit by citing the Insular Cases.