Ricardo Rossello announced he is stepping down as governor of the US territory of Puerto Rico after an unprecedented groundswell of protests over his misogynist and homophobic texts.

Thousands poured out onto the streets of Puerto Rico's cities to celebrate Rossello's ouster.

It took less than two weeks for protests to build into the political conflagration in San Juan earlier this week when at least a half million people marched through the capital demanding his resignation.  Rossello tried to dig in his heels as opposition politicians demanded he quit and protesters spray painted buildings in San Juan's historic quarter with slogans denouncing him as evil and corrupt.  But by Wednesday morning, members of his cabinet were rushing out the door and his own governing New Progressive Party determined there was cause to impeach him.  He announced his resignation just before midnight.

Earlier this month, the Center for Investigative Journalism published around 900 pages of text messages between Rossello, his cabinet, and staff.  The language used was profane, and a joke about bodies piling up after 2016's devastating Hurricane Maria - which killed 3,000 people - was the last straw for most Puerto Ricans.  Corruption had already been a problem for years, and the island economy is in the pits for locals who can't afford to live in luxurious gated communities.  Although Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, high ranking government positions tended to be the domain of the wealthy, well-connected families.  Rossello himself is a second generation governor, the son of former governor Pedro Rossello who served from 1993 through 2001.

Rossello is also bearing the brunt of public anger over Puerto Rico's deteriorating relationship with Washington, DC.  In 2016, the US Congress appointed a emergency management board to take over the island's troubled finances from the duly elected local authorities.  Residents saw it as a paternalistic, colonial coup, and resented Washington imposing sweeping cuts to the social safety net.  They call it "la junta", and protesters this week chanted, "¡Ricky renuncia y llevate a la junta!" or "Ricky resign and take la junta with you!" Lawyers, legal aid, free legal advice in France here

"Ricky" Rossello will exit the governor's office as of 5:00 PM local time on Friday 2 August.  But the un-elected financial emergency board that has caused so much bitterness will stay.