Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, October 27, 2024, at a Trump Campaign Rally in Madison Square Garden, New York, comedian, Tony Hinchcliffe, denigrated Puerto Rico with his ignorant and disparaging remarks, equating Puerto Rico to a “floating island of garbage.”
The Puerto Rico Statehood Council (PRSC) unequivocally condemns the xenophobic remarks at the Trump Campaign Rally, that seek to insult and disregard the contributions of Puerto Ricans and Latinos to the whole of the Nation. Such shameful speech must be repudiated.
Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens and have served in all branches of the U.S. armed forces since the first World War. The mostly Puerto Rican 65th Infantry Regiment Borinqueneers were even given the Congressional Gold Medal, America’s oldest and highest civilian award, for their outstanding service to our nation. However, because of the island’s unincorporated territory status the residents of Puerto Rico lack voting representation in Congress and lack the ability to vote for the U.S. President. Additionally, as a result of the island’s unequal and undemocratic territory status they are also treated unequally under federal laws.
“This was not comedy, this was humiliating language meant to dehumanize 3.2 million U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico, and to insult the more than 6 million Puerto Ricans stateside as well as the more than 62 million American Latinos nationwide. It exposes the deep rot of colonialism in the conscience both of those who would use it and those who would give this content a platform,” said PRSC Executive Director, George H. Laws-Garcia.
“Puerto Ricans have made countless contributions to America. This moment must serve as a call to conscience for all of our fellow Americans who believe in democracy to join our efforts to end the scourge of territorial colonialism. If you feel outraged at this, don’t just post on social media, go vote and then contact your members of Congress. Urge them to pass legislation to give voters in Puerto Rico a definitive choice to resolve the island’s political status. By doing so you’ll not only help improve the lives of your fellow citizens in Puerto Rico, but you’ll also help to revive one of America’s highest principles: government by consent of the governed,” added Laws-Garcia.
We urge Former President Trump and his campaign to denounce the disparaging remarks by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe towards Puerto Rico, and to support efforts to end the island’s territory status. Voters in Puerto Rico and the states will be watching.