Puerto Rican Community Reacts to Trump Rally Jokes

Last Sunday, Philadelphia council member Quetcy Lozada was at a campaign event with Vice President Kamala Harris when she received disturbing news. A comedian, Tony Hinchcliffe, had made racist remarks about Puerto Ricans during a Trump rally in New York. Lozada, who represents a district with a majority Puerto Rican population, was upset but not surprised. The comedian said, "There’s a lot going on. I don’t know if you guys know this, but there’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico. " In the key swing state of Pennsylvania, home to over 472, 000 Puerto Ricans, the comments sparked outrage. Yemele Ayala, a Puerto Rican voter at the Harris event, found the remarks disrespectful. "We still have more work to do, " she thought. The incident led Democratic leaders to condemn the Trump campaign. Lozada joined Harris on Monday, denouncing the racist comments. The Puerto Rican community in Pennsylvania hopes this incident will motivate voters. Lozada noted that the Trump campaign often disrespects immigrant communities. In 2017, Puerto Rico faced a devastating hurricane, and Trump's responses were criticized. Harris' campaign recently announced plans to boost Puerto Rico's economy if elected. The island's economic struggles and political status are longstanding issues. The comedian defended his jokes, leading to a backlash. The Trump campaign tried to distance itself from the comments. Despite being U. S. citizens, Puerto Ricans on the island cannot vote, but those in states like Pennsylvania can. This incident highlights the complex relationship between Puerto Rico and the U. S. mainland.