Protest in opposition to the go to of the Vice President Kamala Harris to Puerto Rico, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Friday, March. 22, 2024. (AP Photograph/Alejandro Granadillo)
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in Puerto Rico on Friday as a part of a whirlwind journey to tout the federal assist the U.S. territory has acquired following lethal hurricanes and attend a Democratic fundraiser.
Her go to comes days after U.S. President Joe Biden launched a marketing campaign concentrating on Latino voters forward of the November common elections. Whereas these in Puerto Rico can’t vote in U.S. presidential elections regardless of being U.S. residents, greater than 5 million Puerto Ricans dwell within the U.S. mainland.
Accompanying Harris for the roughly five-hour go to to the island was U.S. Vitality Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Division of Housing and City Improvement Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman. Welcoming them was Gov. Pedro Pierluisi, a Democrat whose New Progressive Social gathering has lengthy pushed for statehood.
Hours earlier than Harris’ arrival, a pair dozen protesters gathered in Puerto Rico’s capital to decry the island’s territorial standing and demand a cease-fire within the Israel-Hamas struggle.
“We discover her presence disrespectful,” stated Joselyn Velázquez, protest spokeswoman, as a gaggle round her waved Palestinian flags.
Close by, one demonstrator stood on a U.S. flag whereas others gathered further U.S. flags and set them on hearth.
“She will not be welcome right here,” stated one protester.
Harris was scheduled to go to a house within the northern municipality of Canovanas, positioned close to the capital, in addition to go to a neighborhood middle in San Juan. She is also slated to deal with a marketing campaign reception earlier than flying again to the U.S. mainland Friday night.
It’s Harris’ first go to to Puerto Rico as vice chairman, having visited as a U.S. senator in 2017 after devastating hurricanes Irma and Maria pummeled the island.
