Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera and Buffalo Councilmember David Rivera were joined today by Puerto Rican officials and community leaders to denounce remarks made at former President Trump’s recent rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City, where a comedian made hateful, disparaging remarks toward Puerto Ricans and Latinos.
Referring to Puerto Rico as an “island of garbage,” the individual went on to mock Hispanics for failing to use birth control before making further racist and derogatory comments about both Jews and Palestinians. He also said he “carved watermelons” with a Black audience member, referencing a racist stereotype.
The comments not only insult Puerto Rican Americans and highlight the continued disregard and disdain that the GOP displays toward Latino and minority communities across the nation, but they also further entrench the party’s willingness to undermine and insult millions of Americans based solely on race and ethnicity.
The GOP under former President Trump has a demonstrated pattern of willful ignorance toward the island of Puerto Rico.
The Trump administration withheld about $20 billion in hurricane relief for Puerto Rico following the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Maria in 2017, one of the deadliest U.S. natural disasters in over 100 years.
The storm had left more than 90% of the 3-and-a-half million people living on the island remain without power and phone communications for an elongated period of time, and Trump had responded during a visit by throwing paper towels into a crowd.
As U.S. citizens, Puerto Ricans have served in every branch of the nation’s Armed Forces. They have long been an essential part of the American economy, cultural fabric, and society.
From starting businesses that drive local economies to sharing rich cultural traditions, the Latino community has brought both strength and vibrancy to the country.
Puerto Rico has been a leading bioscience hub for over 65 years. It is currently the most prominent bioscience manufacturing hub in the United States.
Machinery manufacturing produced $273 million in net income in 2022 and experienced a net income growth of 101% since 2018.
The disparaging language used at the recent Republican rally reveals a disturbing lack of respect for these contributions, further highlighting the GOP’s indifference to the values of diversity and inclusion that American was founded on.
The choice this November could not be clearer and the juxtaposition between the two presidential candidates could not be starker.
On Sunday, Kamala Harris visited with Pennsylvania’s significant Puerto Rican population, stopping by a local Puerto Rican restaurant. While there, she talked about a new plan she announced to bring economic opportunities to Puerto Rico, discussed her visit there after Hurricane Maria, and said that even as a senator she had “felt a need and an obligation” to “make sure Puerto Rico’s needs were met.”
Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera said, “There’s an old adage by Dr. Maya Angelou that says, ‘When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.’ After nearly a decade spent dividing Americans by race and ethnicity and after countless years of derogatory speech toward minorities, Donald Trump and the GOP are no longer even attempting to veil their message: that only white Americans are welcome in their version of America. But this spiteful rhetoric will not diminish the pride and resilience of Puerto Ricans or Hispanic Americans. We will always stand tall and proud in the face of adversity.”
Buffalo Councilmember David Rivera said, “We’ve seen situations like this before: an individual making racist comments under the guise of ‘comedy.’ But racist remarks are never comedy. They are abhorrent, false, and not something our community will tolerate. Today we stand together and condemn this type of rhetoric. We stand with our proud, Puerto Rican and Hispanic community, and any other community that has been a target of this blatant racism.”
Casemiro Rodriguez, President of the Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY, said, “Puerto Ricans are proud Americans, and our culture, hard work, and contributions are evident every day in our communities. The Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY does much more than preserve Latino culture — it acts as a unifying bind that brings together local Hispanic peoples and allows them to celebrate the diversity that makes our city so strong. This kind of rhetoric not only disrespects our heritage but also undermines the values of unity and respect that we have worked so hard to achieve.”
Kelly Hernandez, Hispanic activist and community advocate, said, “Latina women are a force in American society—leading businesses, educating the next generation, advocating for change, and uplifting our communities. Our contributions are woven into the economic and cultural progress of this country. We will continue to stand proud, knowing that our work and dedication speak louder than words of ignorance or hate.”
Dr. Gliset Colón Morales, Bilingual Education Coordinator at SUNY Buffalo State, said, “I wholeheartedly condemn the hateful remarks made at the rally and stand in solidarity with my Puerto Rican and Latino community. It’s crucial that we continue to uplift and celebrate our rich capital, rejecting all forms of racism, linguicism, and other forms of discrimination.”
Gabriel A. Rodríguez Legion Post 1928 said, “Countless Puerto Rican and Hispanic veterans have put their lives on the line for this nation. We have fought and died for the American flag, and we contribute to this nation every single day. We wore the uniform of the US Armed Forces with pride. This hateful language dishonors the service of thousands of Puerto Ricans and the dignity of every Hispanic American who sacrificed in service to our great country.”
