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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 Yulin 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.
\u201c@jonlovett Trump is picking a fight with pro sports while Puerto Rico lies in ruins and all the republicans can do is take away health care\u2026\u201d— Jared Duquette (@Jared Duquette) 1506272964
\u201cAmid all the hype of Trump vs Pro athletes, let's not forget #PuertoRico #USVI #Texas and #Florida neighbors who need our help to rebuild\u201d— Michel Brewer (@Michel Brewer) 1506277677
\u201cPuerto Rico's 3mln American citizens remain without power and Trump is not leading. https://t.co/TASxAuYY9Q\u201d— Dan Murphy (@Dan Murphy) 1506277679
\u201cMy thoughts are with the people of Puerto Rico recovering from Hurricane Maria's devastation. We must do everything we can to help rebuild.\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1506269115
\u201cThe 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\u201d— karlss\ud83e\udd0d (@karlss\ud83e\udd0d) 1506277503
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
"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 Yulin 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.
\u201c@jonlovett Trump is picking a fight with pro sports while Puerto Rico lies in ruins and all the republicans can do is take away health care\u2026\u201d— Jared Duquette (@Jared Duquette) 1506272964
\u201cAmid all the hype of Trump vs Pro athletes, let's not forget #PuertoRico #USVI #Texas and #Florida neighbors who need our help to rebuild\u201d— Michel Brewer (@Michel Brewer) 1506277677
\u201cPuerto Rico's 3mln American citizens remain without power and Trump is not leading. https://t.co/TASxAuYY9Q\u201d— Dan Murphy (@Dan Murphy) 1506277679
\u201cMy thoughts are with the people of Puerto Rico recovering from Hurricane Maria's devastation. We must do everything we can to help rebuild.\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1506269115
\u201cThe 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\u201d— karlss\ud83e\udd0d (@karlss\ud83e\udd0d) 1506277503
"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 Yulin 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.
\u201c@jonlovett Trump is picking a fight with pro sports while Puerto Rico lies in ruins and all the republicans can do is take away health care\u2026\u201d— Jared Duquette (@Jared Duquette) 1506272964
\u201cAmid all the hype of Trump vs Pro athletes, let's not forget #PuertoRico #USVI #Texas and #Florida neighbors who need our help to rebuild\u201d— Michel Brewer (@Michel Brewer) 1506277677
\u201cPuerto Rico's 3mln American citizens remain without power and Trump is not leading. https://t.co/TASxAuYY9Q\u201d— Dan Murphy (@Dan Murphy) 1506277679
\u201cMy thoughts are with the people of Puerto Rico recovering from Hurricane Maria's devastation. We must do everything we can to help rebuild.\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1506269115
\u201cThe 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\u201d— karlss\ud83e\udd0d (@karlss\ud83e\udd0d) 1506277503