Dozens of Puerto Rican activists and supporters gathered at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Manhattan on April 21, 2025, to protest a planned luxury development project in Puerto Rico. The demonstrators, organized by the group Juventud Unida por la Independencia (JUPI), occupied the hotel lobby while chanting "Mandarin hotel! Out of Puerto Rico!"

The protest targeted the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group's involvement in Esencia, a $2 billion luxury hotel and residential development scheduled to open in 2028 in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. Activists also unfurled banners reading "No to Esencia" at the nearby Shops at Columbus Circle mall and distributed informational materials about their opposition to the project.

According to JUPI, the Esencia development would impact more than 1,500 acres of protected coastal land containing archaeological sites. The activists argue the project poses environmental risks to the fragile coastal ecosystem in the Cabo Rojo area.

The demonstration included displays of Puerto Rican pro-independence flags, reflecting the broader anti-colonialist movement that advocates for Puerto Rican sovereignty from the United States. The activists described their action as part of ongoing opposition to what they view as exploitative development projects on the island.

The protest represents growing activism among Puerto Rican independence groups, particularly following concerns about federal disaster response and development policies affecting the island territory.