y now the disparaging remarks made about Puerto Rico and Latinos at the Trump/Vance rally hosted Madison Square Garden is widespread news. Although it occurred just over 48 hours ago, the feelings these disparaging remarks evoke feel as if they have been with the Latino community for a lot longer.
Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, serving as a speaker at the rally now famously referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage”. The joke did not land well and has sparked outrage in the Puerto Rican community and beyond. These remarks, highlight a persistent issue of racial insensitivity and misinformation that impacts millions of American citizens. Puerto Rico, renowned for its rich cultural legacy and significant contributions to the United States across various fields, stands as a testament to resilience and pride.
These remarks, have been condemned by the Board of Directors of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, who have issued the following statement.
“The Board of Directors of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade condemns the outrageous, racist, and misinformed statement about Puerto Rico at the Trump/Vance rally in New York. First, Puerto Rico is a beautiful island whose US citizens make tremendous contributions to this country in the military, medicine, science, education, sports, and many other disciplines. Puerto Ricans alone have earned over 2700 Purple Hearts in defense of the United States.
Our historical and cultural legacy and the beauty of Puerto Rico are not just well-documented, but also globally recognized. Another 5.8 million American citizens who recognize and embrace their Puerto Rican ancestry live in the states, in crucial voting states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, and North Carolina. Shockingly, people choose to speak with ignorance about Puerto Rico, spewing garbage statements. This insult will not diminish who we are or what we represent but should remind us of the critical importance of voting on November 5th.”
With over 5.8 million Puerto Ricans residing in key voting states, the importance of recognizing and respecting their heritage becomes even more critical. While Trump, Vance and Hinchcliffe may have had a chuckle at the expense of Puerto Rico at the Madison Square Garden rally, the Puerto Rican community could very well have the last laugh!