We stand with IBA - Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción.
As an organization founded and led by Puerto Ricans in Massachusetts, IBA-Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción repudiates the offensive, racist and xenophobic statements expressed yesterday by Tony Hinchcliffe at the Trump rally, which depicted the island and people of Puerto Rico in a deeply and disturbingly derogative way. Puerto Rico and its people, both in the island and the diaspora, have made significant contributions to the United States society. From serving in the US armed forces to contributing to the arts and sciences, sports, academia, education and much more, Puerto Ricans add tremendous value to the everyday American life. Puerto Rico is an archipelago of beautiful islands where its people show their strength and resilience despite its current colonial status. Furthermore, we object to and challenge Hinchcliffe’s assertion about Latinos. Latinos are making immense contributions to the US in every aspect. Latinos are fueling the US economy by doing entry level, low-wage jobs that no one else wants to do across this country. A day without Puerto Ricans and Latinos in the US is a day without essential services and without the amenities that the US public has come to depend on and enjoy, such as agriculture, manufacturing, utilities, construction, food services, health care, childcare and hospitality, to name a few. At IBA, we will continue to elevate our Puerto Rican, Latino and multicultural community by providing access to opportunities for advancing social mobility and economic prosperity, and by elevating our voices and pushing for more representation at every level, particularly in public office. Therefore, we urge Puerto Ricans and Latinos to repudiate these statements, to elevate your voice, and to exercise your right to vote on November 5th.