Darializa Ávila Chevalier, the Democratic candidate for Congress in New York's 13th district, which includes the former Puerto Rican neighborhood of Harlem, expressed support for Puerto Rico's independence and a inclusive process of self-determination. On the 128th anniversary of the US invasion of Puerto Rico, Ávila Chevalier, who defeated Congressman Adriano Espaillat in the Democratic primary, recorded a video stating that the US invaded Puerto Rico and never left.
She argued that Puerto Rico is a nation with its own people, culture, and identity, and that after 128 years of exploitation, the island deserves independence. Ávila Chevalier also criticized the US government's public policies, saying it has money for wars and ICE raids but not for communities.
She noted that the history of colonization in Puerto Rico is the longest in US history, surpassing that of India under British rule and the Congo under Belgian rule. Ávila Chevalier's district includes a part of the Bronx, where many Puerto Ricans live and suffer the consequences of colonialism, including the aftermath of Hurricane María in 2017.