CONNECTICUT, USA — Connecticut officials responded to remarks made by a comedian about Puerto Rico at former President Donald Trump’s New York City rally over the weekend.
Some lawmakers joined Puerto Rican voters Wednesday morning, not just denouncing the remarks, but laying out the difference their vote can make.
“We are tired of being mistreated, disrespected and ignored,” said State Rep. Juan Candelaria, (D-New Haven). “Puerto Rico deserves better.”
Connecticut has one of the largest Puerto Rican populations in the country at nearly 8% of residents, and some state lawmakers are now joining Puerto Rican leaders in demanding an apology after those comments, while celebrating the territories’ culture and contribution.
“I am embarrassed and ashamed for all of us as Americans by these despicable comments,” said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, (D-CT). “This kind of hate has no place in America and we owe an apology to the people of Puerto Rico.”
Those comments were made by a comedian, Tony Hinchcliffe, during a rally for Trump Sunday at Madison Square Garden.
“There's literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now,” Hinchcliffe said Sunday. “Yeah, I think it's called Puerto Rico.”
Connecticut’s state and federal elected officials responded to those remarks, alleging that Sunday’s rally and the Trump campaign is amplifying racism and bigotry. They said the community already faces daily and that presidential platforms should stand for better.
“I came to Stamford at nine years old from a segregated south and now in 2024 I'm standing in a country that's still talks about how black people are, how Hispanics are, how women are negatively, not positively,” State Sen. Patricia Miller, (D) chair of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus, said. “I am so sorry that you had to be subjected to that, this, that vile language.”
“That was an insult because we are hard working people. We're going to this country to get ahead and to contribute,” added Bridgeport resident Carmen Labrador.
Labrador was born and raised in Puerto Rico, she moved to Connecticut with her family in 1956. She said she’s happy the state’s representatives are standing up for Puerto Rico.
“I have three daughters born and raised and educated here and I'm very proud to be a Puerto Rican,” Labrador continued. “That was an insult, but I'm happy that action is gonna be taken and we have people that are backing us up.”
Some Connecticut Republicans, like Sen. Chris Murphy's challenger Matt Corey, are calling Wednesday’s gathering “nothing more than contrived outrage before Election Day.”
Corey said, “The bad joke here is the Democratic Party's inattention to the Puerto Rican community,” adding “they have ignored this community for decades but suddenly decide to whip up outrage before an election.”
Former President Trump himself responded to the criticism, calling Sunday’s rally “an absolute lovefest." When asked about the comments during a Fox News interview, he responded, "Somebody said there was a comedian that joked about Puerto Rico or something. And I have no idea who he is.”
President Joe Biden's response to the remarks made at the rally also drew criticism from Republicans.
“The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American,” Biden said in a campaign call organized by the Hispanic advocacy group Voto Latino. “It’s totally contrary to everything we’ve done, everything we’ve been.”
Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement, “There’s no way to spin it: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris don’t just hate President Trump, they despise the tens of millions of Americans who support him.”
Vice President Kamala Harris distanced herself from Biden's comment Wednesday, saying that she "disagrees with any criticism of people based on they vote for," and that she "will represent all Americans" including those who don't vote for her. Biden and the White House also claimed that the comment was about the rhetoric made at the rally and not the supporters themselves.
Puerto Ricans, whether in their homeland or in Connecticut, have often been an overlooked electorate. Some people even tend to forget they are voting citizens, but now the voting bloc could very well be an election decider.
Nearly a million Puerto Rican voters live in swing states, especially Pennsylvania.
Elected leaders told people multiple times Wednesday to get out and vote, to make their voice heard, and that message does seem to be resonating. Bridgeport community members say after Sunday’s comments, they went out and voted early, and are now encouraging their family and friends to do the same.
Emma Wulfhorst is a political reporter for FOX61 News. She can be reached at ewulfhorst@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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