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While Trump Stokes Division, Warnings Against Ignoring Ongoing Crisis in Puerto Rico

"The fact that within the last 48hrs Trump has made taking a knee for the anthem more important than the lives in Puerto Rico makes me so sad."

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A resident wades through flood water days after Hurricane Maria made landfall, on September 22, 2017 in Loiza, Puerto Rico. Many on the island have lost power, running water, and cell phone service after Hurricane Maria, a category 4 hurricane, passed through. (Photo:  Alex Wroblewski/Getty Images)

"No matter what crazy stuff Trump is up to now let's keep in mind Puerto Rico really needs our attention and help."

Those are the words of Mark Ruffalo this weekend as the actor and social justice activist echoed the concerns of many that the president's incendiary comments over recent days are serving to distract people from the severe crisis in the U.S. island territory, where power remains out for much of the island and residents are growing increasingly worried over the scale of the damage left by Hurricane Maria.

As journalist David Sirota tweeted, "Houston & FL are destroyed, Puerto Rico is in crisis & Trump wants u to be mad not at his climate denialism but instead at NFL players."

In an interview with the Washington Post on Sunday, San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz described the disaster in her city and across Puerto Rico—elsewhere described as "apocalyptic"—by saying, "There is horror in the streets... People are actually becoming prisoners in their own homes."

With others urging people not to forget the destruction in the U.S. Virgin Islands as well, there was widespread concern that in addition to sowing deeper divisions around the issues of racism and police violence, Trump was actively provoking social discord in order to distract the American people from pressing issues like climate-related disasters left by recent storms and the attempt by Republicans in the U.S. Senate to push through healthcare repeal bill in the days ahead.

 

 

 

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Puerto Rico, Caribbean, Hurricane Maria, Carmen Yulín Cruz, San Juan