Thousands of frustrated Puerto Ricans protest against ongoing power outages

Thousands of frustrated Puerto Ricans took to the streets Friday to protest ongoing power outages occurring across the island.

The group of more than 4,000 protesters blocked a highway in the capital of San Juan with speakers on vehicles blasting “My power went out, damn it, and now my fridge will be ruined,” The Associated Press reported.

The protest went into the night with protesters pulling out their phones once it got dark and turning their flashlights on. 

Some wore T-shirts that said “Go to hell, Luma,” referring to the electric company that took over Puerto Rico’s electric grid in June, according to the AP.

Luma signed a 15-year contract to take over the island’s transmissions, but the first few months have been rocky for the company as hundreds of thousands have had power outages since the takeover.

At one point, there were 800,000 Puerto Ricans without power after a fire broke out at a Luma substation. 

House Democrats are demanding the president of the company turn over information to the Natural Resources Committee as it investigates Luma’s acquisition of the power grid.

Luma President Wayne Stensby testified in front of the committee, with members saying his answers to questions about the power outages and the rising cost of electricity rates were inadequate.