Vice President Kamala Harris was seen clapping along to a Puerto Rican protest song during her visit to San Juan, but stopped once an aide translated the lyrics that were critical of the United States and Israel. She visited the Goyoco community center in San Juan, where she heard from staff and community leaders. Harris was also seen visiting a residential home outfitted with solar panels and water tanks following Hurricane Maria. She emphasized the importance of providing resources and capacity to the talent and community in Puerto Rico, citing over $140 billion in investments from the Biden administration.
The visit to Puerto Rico was met with a mix of demonstrators and onlookers, with some holding signs criticizing Harris as a war criminal and calling the USA and Israel genocidal. Despite the contentious atmosphere, Harris toured the community center and listened to musicians playing, clapping along until she was made aware of the critical lyrics in the song being performed. The focus of the visit was on showcasing new innovations in technology aimed at making Puerto Rico more resilient to extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, and providing a more consistent source of energy for residents.
Harris was joined by Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Adrianne Todman, and Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi during her visit. The vice president highlighted the importance of investing in Puerto Rico’s infrastructure to improve the quality of life for residents, especially in the face of challenges like intermittent electricity and extreme weather. The installation of solar panels and other smart technology was emphasized as a way to provide more consistent energy sources and upgrade the well-being and dignity of families in Puerto Rico.
The visit to Puerto Rico came amidst ongoing discussions about gun control and climate change, with Harris pushing for new measures to address these issues. However, her visit was met with criticism from some, including the father of a victim of the Parkland school shooting, who called it a “slap in the face.” Despite the backlash, Harris remained focused on highlighting the investments and initiatives being made by the Biden administration in Puerto Rico, including significant financial support for infrastructure improvements and the implementation of new technologies.
Harris’s visit to Puerto Rico showcased the Biden administration’s commitment to supporting the island’s recovery efforts and resilience in the face of climate-related challenges. The focus on clean energy and technology innovations was highlighted as a way to improve the quality of life for residents and provide more consistent energy sources. Despite the political tensions and protests surrounding the visit, Harris emphasized the importance of working together to address the needs of the community and provide resources to support their well-being and dignity.
In conclusion, Vice President Kamala Harris’s visit to Puerto Rico highlighted the administration’s efforts to support the island’s recovery and build resilience to climate-related challenges. The focus on clean energy, infrastructure improvements, and technology innovations was emphasized as a way to improve the quality of life for residents and provide more consistent energy sources. Despite the political tensions and protests during the visit, Harris remained focused on addressing the needs of the community and providing resources to support their well-being and dignity.
