A Puerto Rican archbishop has demanded an apology from US presidential candidate Donald Trump for what many have called a racist joke by a comedian at a Republican rally in New York. Source: Crux.
On Sunday, Tony Hinchcliffe was among the 30 speakers who warmed up the crowd for Mr Trump at Madison Square Garden.
In remarks that have drawn widespread criticism, Hinchcliffe said, “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.”
He later made what observers have decried as lewd and racist remarks about Latinos, Jewish and Black people.
Amid the controversy, the Trump campaign distanced itself from Hinchcliffe, with senior adviser Danielle Alvarez saying in a statement regarding the joke about Puerto Rico, “This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.”
In an official press release addressed to Mr Trump, Archbishop Roberto González Nieves of San Juan de Puerto Rico has said he was “dismayed and appalled” by Hinchcliffe’s comments, adding, “Puerto Rico is not a floating island of garbage”.
“Puerto Rico is a beautiful country inhabited by a beautiful and noble people, which is why in Spanish it is called un encanto, un eden, meaning an enchantment, an Eden.
Archbishop González Nieves noted that more Puerto Rican soldiers died in the Vietnam War as part of the United States military than from any state in the country.
“I enjoy a good joke. However, humour has its limits,” he said, saying, “it should not denigrate the dignity and sacredness of people.”
He asked Mr Trump “to disavow these comments as reflecting in any way your personal or political viewpoints,” saying, “it is not sufficient for your campaign to apologise. It is important that you, personally, apologise for these comments.”
The incident comes just a week before Americans head to the polls on November 5 in what many have called one of the US’s most contentious election yet.
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Puerto Rico prelate demands apology for ‘island of garbage’ joke at Trump rally (By Elise Ann Allen, Crux)
