Dozens of Bronx residents and the Boricua Independence Front marched on Sunday for Puerto Rico's independence - saying no statehood and yes to decolonization.

The group traveled from Roberto Clemente Plaza all the way to Harlem.

"We want to raise consciousness. What we're doing here showing the people that we are about showing that it's no to statehood, yes to decolonization," said event organizer Julio Pabón.

Demonstrators said their island is currently subject to a colonial regime which prevents them from making their own fundamental decisions. They said the solution is decolonization.

"We could determine our own economy. We could have our tariffs to protect our agriculture, which we can't do now," said Pedro Reyes, of the Friends of Puerto Rico Initiative. "We have to unite and defend our right to self-determination."

Organizers said they want Americans and Puerto Ricans alike to understand that they believe statehood will strip them of their nationality and their culture.

"Right now, Puerto Rico's becoming gentrified, little by little, more and more everyday investors to the island and they're turning Puerto Rico into something else," said Walter Alomar, a member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party.

Activists said their goal is to educate their fellow Puerto Ricans and Americans.

"They don't understand that decolonization could also possibly promote the status of statehood, but promoting statehood as the only option is incorrect," Pabón said.

Activists and Bronx residents of Puerto Rican celebrated their culture and spread their message as they made their way to Harlem where a similar demonstration was held.