Jennifer Lopez took the microphone at a campaign rally for Kamala Harris in Las Vegas yesterday, encouraging Americans to stand up against Donald Trump. After acknowledging that she has been on stage in Las Vegas a lot of times, Lopez confirmed the rally podium was “the most important stage I’ve ever been on.”
During her 13-minute speech, Lopez reflected on the remarks made about Puerto Rico by Tony Hinchcliffe during Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally, where the comedian called her home a “floating island of garbage.”
“I promised myself I wouldn’t get emotional, but you know what, we should be emotional,” Lopez said. “We should be upset. We should be scared and outraged. Our pain matters. We matter.”
The singer and actress called Trump “the biggest adversary I think America has internally ever had” and said he “has consistently worked to divide us.” “At Madison Square Garden, he reminded us who he really is and how he really feels,” she said. “It wasn’t just Puerto Ricans that were offended that day. It was every Latino in this country. It was humanity and anyone of decent character.”
Lopez also compared her own backstory to that of Harris. “When I started in TV and film, I could get roles playing the maid or the loud mouth Latina, but I knew I have more to offer,” she said. “And I think there are a lot of people in this country who feel the same way, who know that they are capable of more, and we all just want a chance to prove it. And elections are about choosing leaders who support that, not one who stands in the way.”
Towards the end of the speech, Lopez reaffirmed her Puerto Rican heritage, but said it was only one aspect of her identity. “I am Puerto Rican, and yes, I was born here, and we are Americans,” she told the crowd. “I am a mother. I am a sister. I am an actor and an entertainer. And I like Hollywood endings. I like when the good guy, or, in this case, the good girl wins.”
She continued, “And with an understanding of our past and a faith in our future I will be casting my ballot for Kamala Harris for president of the United States proudly. You can’t even spell American without ‘Rican.’ This our country too and we must exercise our right to vote on Nov. 5. Please.”
Following Hinchcliffe’s racist speech at MSG, numerous musicians and celebrities with ties to Puerto Rico have spoken out against him and Trump. Earlier this week, Aubrey Plaza used her platform at the WSJ Magazine Innovator Awards to say, “Thankfully, my sweet abuelita wasn’t here to hear that disgusting remark. But if she was alive today, I think she would say, ‘Tony Hinchcliffe, go fuck yourself.’”
On Tuesday, Bad Bunny shared a video on his Instagram page that celebrates the history and beauty of his home island of Puerto Rico. The video highlights Puerto Rican icons from every aspect of culture, from politicians to astronauts to baseball legends to beauty pageant winners. “We’re kings and queens and champions,” a voice-over in the video says. “We’re legends.”
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