GMP releases call to denounce offensive, racist comments about Puerto Rico at Trump rally

In the week leading up to Election Day, the United Church of Christ General Minister and President Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson has released the following call to denounce harmful comments spoken by participants at a New York City political rally for former President Donald Trump, and she offers a prayer for “our hearts, minds, and spirits as we live through this tense political season.”

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. – Ephesians 4:25

As people of faith, called to love our neighbors as ourselves, the United Church of Christ denounces all racist, sexist, violent, and xenophobic rhetoric against all people, including those who are citizens of the United States. Following remarks made at a political rally for former President Trump, the United Church of Christ denounces the comments made by participants calling Puerto Rico “a floating island of garbage,” referring to Vice President Kamala Harris as a prostitute with “pimp handlers,” and insulting many others. The rhetoric and its context were not humorous; instead these hate-filled rants fueled the vitriol already present in this election season.

Words have power. Words invoke reaction. When words are used in ways that stoke anger, hate, fear, and violence, they are weaponized to be hurtful and harmful.

Puerto Rico and the people of Puerto Rico are not garbage. They are our neighbors, and the island continues to be colonized by the United States. As such, Puerto Ricans are citizens of the United States, with the rights conferred by the Constitution of the United States. To call Puerto Rico an island of garbage is to name Puerto Ricans garbage and to deny their humanity, to deny their dignity and to deny their sovereignty as a people.

What we witnessed on Sunday is yet another example of demoralizing and dehumanizing rhetoric on display. We call on our churches, conferences, clergy, and all UCC members to denounce this vitriolic, hateful rhetoric, stand against hate, and advocate for the rights of all people, immigrants, and those in this country who continue to navigate bigotry and systemic White Supremacy in all forms. As followers of Jesus Christ, we must persist in speaking truth in love and loving all. We are called to be active expressions of God’s love in the world.

We call for an apology to the people of Puerto Rico, to Vice President Harris, and to others whose dignity was diminished by these callous remarks framed in a political environment. We further call for attention to civil discourse and peaceful rhetoric in the days to come as citizens of the United States head to the polls.

Let us counter all hate with love, offer our support for our neighbors, and work toward creating a world where everyone can thrive, feel safe, and experience the fullness of God’s love.

A prayer for us:

Holy One, we ask your protection over our hearts, minds, and spirits as we live through this tense political season. We ask your protection over our siblings who are vulnerable and struggling to be seen and heard in the normativity of oppression. We ask for the courage to care for our democracy and to advocate for protection from any source that may cause harm as we seek an end to that violence. Heal the woundedness brought about by words spoken in anger and hatred. Your word says that no weapon formed against us shall prosper, and we believe that to be true, even where words are used as weapons. Be with us we pray. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson
General Minister and President / CEO
United Church of Christ