The Organic Act Explained


Independent Guåhan to offer Teach-In on The Organic Act, its past, present and future

For Immediate Release, October 13, 2019- Independent Guåhan (IG) invites the public to attend a Teach-In titled “The Organic Act Explained” on Thursday, October 17thfrom 6 pm – 7:30 pm at University of Guam, Humanities and Social Sciences Building Room 106. This event is free and open to the public and will also be live streamed on the Independent Guåhan Facebook page (www.facebook.com/independentgu)

Recently, Guam’s non-voting delegate to the US Congress Michael San Nicolas introduced a bill in Washington D.C. to amend the Organic Act for Guam, which would require that a public referendum be held prior to any tax increase for the island. The delegate also has plans to introduce future amendments, in order to compel prompt payment of tax refunds for local residents. Discussion on these proposed reforms has been unfortunately limited, in part by a general lack of knowledge and understanding about Guam’s Organic Act.

The Organic Act is one of the most important documents that connects Guam to the United States, but in the media and in the educational system, very little is disseminated about its role in our daily lives. What is the Organic Act? What is its role in the history of Guam’s political development? How does it affect our lives today? What is the future of the Guam Organic Act and the island’s political status in general? These questions and more will be addressed as part of this special Independent Guåhan Teach-In. 

Independent Guåhan holds a range of regular activities, including monthly Teach-Ins on topics of importance to the island community, especially related to issues of decolonization, cultural revitalization and international solidarity. Past Teach-Ins have focused on rethinking Liberation Day as a liberation, the convoluted history of war reparations for Chamorus, the impending federal ban on cockfighting, the independence movement in Catalonia and solidarity between Chamorus and Filipinos over Guåhan’s decolonization. Independent Guåhan’s Teach-Ins are held monthly and organized through IG’s Media Committee.

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