Don Omar has shared his endorsement for Kamala Harris as the next United States president.
The Puerto Rican-bred superstar penned a lengthy statement uploaded to his social media on Tuesday addressed to his 12.6 million followers. “Puerto Rico is my homeland and my identity, and today more than ever, I raise my island’s flag with pride,” he wrote in the opening paragraph.
These remarks come as response to comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s recent appearance at republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump’s rally at New York’s Madison Square Garden over the weekend. Before Trump took stage, Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico “a floating island of garbage.”
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The racist comment incited widespread outrage among prominent Puerto Ricans, including many influential figures in media and entertainment.
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“Hearing such racist and disdainful words directed at my home and at Latinos is heartbreaking,” Omar continued in his statement, posted in both English and Spanish. “Trump has shown us, time and again, what he thinks of us, and the thought of him and his administration back in power is deeply concerning. Words have weight, and as a community, we cannot tolerate language that seeks to devalue us. Latinos, both on and off our native lands, deserve respect and fair representation. With only one week until the election, let’s make sure our voices are heard loud and clear.”
He continued, writing these were the reasons he is endorsing Harris as president. “I trust she represents the respect and change our communities need and I believe she can pave a new path forward-one that uplifts, empowers and prioritizes dignity for all. It’s time to turn the page. We are not going back.”
In addition to Omar, reggaeton superstar Bad Bunny was among the first to immediately share public endorsements for Harris following Trump’s rally on Sunday. He re-posted a clip of Harris stating, “I will never forget what Donald Trump did and what he did not do when Puerto Rico needed a caring and a competent leader. He abandoned the island, tried to block aid after back-to-back devastating hurricanes and offered nothing more than paper towels and insults.”
See Omar’s endorsement below.
