Democrats in Florida have unveiled a billboard reminding the local Hispanic and Latino community of the moment President Donald Trump threw paper towels into a crowd of Puerto Ricans awaiting aid in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
The billboard, which is on display in Kissimmee, was put up by the Florida Democratic Party (FDP) to coincide with Vice President's Mike Pence visit to the city to speak at a "Latinos for Trump" event on January 16.
The billboard shows Trump throwing a roll of paper towels like a basketball at the Calvary Chapel in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico on October 3, 2017, following the disaster which left more than 3,000 people dead. The billboard features the slogan "prohibido olvidar" ("never forget").
"When the Americans in Puerto Rico needed President Trump the most, he threw paper towels at them instead of releasing federal emergency funds," said FDP Executive Director Juan Peñalosa.
"Donald Trump is more interested in tweeting insults at his enemies than tackling spiraling healthcare costs, protecting American jobs, and the growing climate crisis.
"The billboards are a part of our effort to make sure that Trump's lies, broken promises and ineffective management are exposed. We deserve a president that is focused on improving our lives—Trump is not that President."
According to an NBC exit poll, Hispanic and Latino voters amounted to 18 percent of the total number of voters in Florida at the 2016 election, with nearly two-thirds voting for Democrat candidate Hilary Clinton over Trump.
As noted by WEAR, Kissimmee has a large Puerto Rican population, including those forced to relocate following Hurricane Maria.
"Fewer than 17 percent of Puerto Ricans in the Sunshine State support Trump, according to a Florida International University Poll in 2018, but Florida Democrats are not taking anyone for granted and are making early investments to engage voters leading up to the 2020 elections," FDP added in a statement.
Florida hasn't forgotten.
— Florida Democrats (@FlaDems) January 13, 2020
See the billboards 👀 #flapol https://t.co/owTmJ2DVyM
The billboard is due to stay up in Kissimmee until Sunday, January 19. Pence is scheduled to speak at the Latinos for Trump event at the Nación de Fe church in Kissimmee at 6 p.m. EST on Thursday.
The paper towel-throwing incident was one of a number of ways Trump's handling of the 2017 disaster was criticized. Trump was also condemned for calling the government's response to the hurricane an "incredible, unsung success" despite the mass casualties.
Speaking to Newsweek, San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz said Puerto Rico was a "stain" for Trump as the world saw a "lack of humanity, solidarity, compassion and service of an administration that could have helped us but decided not to."
"Puerto Ricans will never erase from their memory images of Trump throwing paper towels," Cruz added.
The White House has been contacted for comment.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Ewan Palmer is a Newsweek News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on US politics, domestic policy ... Read more
