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Musician Bad Bunny has publicly expressed his support for Vice-President Kamala Harris following a controversial incident at a rally for former President Donald Trump. The rally, held at Madison Square Garden, included comedian Tony Hinchcliffe making offensive remarks about Puerto Rico, referring to it as a “floating island of garbage.” This sparked outrage from various artists and some members of the Hispanic Republican community.
Hinchcliffe’s comments were swiftly condemned by Harris’s campaign, as well as by Angel Cintron, the head of the Republican Party in Puerto Rico, and Republican U.S. Representative Maria Elvira Salazar from Miami, who participated in recent Trump events. Salazar voiced her disgust on social media, emphasizing that the disparaging remarks do not align with Republican values. She reminded the public of Puerto Rico’s contribution to the Vietnam War, highlighting the bravery of its soldiers who earned over 345 Purple Hearts.
Despite the backlash, Hinchcliffe appeared to double down on his comments, later making dismissive jokes about Latino culture. His response drew further attention when he suggested that individuals who criticized his remarks lacked a sense of humor, prompting additional responses from Harris’s campaign.
Lingering Effects of Hurricane Maria
Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has Puerto Rican heritage, strongly condemned Hinchcliffe’s comments on social media and urged Puerto Ricans to share clips of the incident within their communities. She also noted the inadequate governmental response to Hurricane Maria in 2017, which public health experts estimate caused nearly 3,000 deaths due to its aftermath. Despite continued criticisms of Trump’s handling of the situation, he has repeatedly questioned the death toll publicly.
The aftermath of Hurricane Maria remains a contentious issue, especially following Trump’s controversial visit to Puerto Rico, which was marked by his tossing of paper towels to residents. His administration did eventually release $13 billion in aid, but this came under scrutiny for delayed delivery and alleged political motivations as the 2020 election approached.
According to Pew Research Center, over 5.9 million people of Puerto Rican descent reside in the United States, with significant populations in swing states like Pennsylvania and North Carolina, which could impact the upcoming election.
Harris recently visited a Puerto Rican restaurant in North Philadelphia to discuss her policy proposals aimed at revitalizing the island’s electrical grid and encouraging investment. In response, Trump is scheduled to appear in Allentown, Pennsylvania, home to a substantial Puerto Rican community.
Through his Instagram account, Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio, shared a message framing Harris’s stance as essential for Puerto Rican voters, echoing her sentiment that the upcoming election bears significant implications for the community. The artist clarified his support for Harris in a statement from his team.
Response to Racism and Advocacy for Puerto Rico
Bad Bunny, a globally recognized reggaeton artist known for hits like Dakiti and Titi Me Pregunto, has previously used his platform to advocate for social issues affecting Puerto Rico, especially in terms of the island’s electrical infrastructure, which was devastated by Hurricane Maria. In his music video for El Apagon, he criticized Luma Energy, the company responsible for the island’s power distribution, highlighting the persistent power outages that residents endure.
The artist also shared a segment of Harris’s video, which emphasized Trump’s neglect of Puerto Rico following recent hurricanes. Various other Puerto Rican artists have joined the conversation, with singer Luis Fonsi expressing anger over the racist rhetoric and emphasizing that continual hate against Puerto Ricans is unacceptable. Ricky Martin and other notable musicians have also voiced support for Harris, while some, like Anuel AA and Nicky Jam, have sided with Trump.
This ongoing discourse underscores the complexities of political alignment within the Puerto Rican community, especially as the November presidential election approaches.
Source
www.cbc.ca