Puerto Rico’s May Day protest turns violent over austerity cuts

Demonstrators clashed with police on San Juan’s streets as they marched against proposed new austerity measures, as the bankrupt island seeks to reduce $74bn of debt.

Annual May Day protests in the Puerto Rican capital of San Juan have turned violent, with riot police clashing with thousands of protesters angry at tough new austerity measures.

Puerto Rico is struggling to rebuild more than seven months after Hurricane Maria.

But protesters say that the recovery effort and the people in most need of help will suffer even more.

Al Jazeera’s Mereana Hond reports.