Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos speaks on racist jokes made at Trump rally

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos and other local leaders went to Puerto Rico Monday as part of a planned trip on a new non-stop flight being offered by JetBlue out of T.F. Green.

Lt. Gov. Matos, who had scheduled this trip in advance, coincidently traveled just one day after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe put the U.S. territory on blast at Donald Trump’s rally in New York City.

“I don’t know if you guys know this but there’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now, I think it’s called Puerto Rico,” Hinchcliffe said during Sunday’s rally.

“Puerto Ricans are very proud, very proud, they love their island, and to have someone use their island as a punch line for a very awful, racist joke, Puerto Ricans are not going to put up with that,” Matos said.

The comedian also made racist comments about other minorities.

Former President Trump’s Campaign Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the comments on Fox News Monday.

“It was a comedian who made a joke in poor taste. Obviously, that joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or our campaign,” Leavitt said.

Matos said she was astonished to hear the jokes on a national stage.

“I cannot believe that that type of hate was being shared yesterday against Puerto Ricans, against Latinos in general, against black people, against Jewish people. It feels like their goal was to offend everyone,” Matos said.

Even with election day right around the corner, Matos said Sunday’s rally could very well change people’s minds on who they plan to vote for.

“I hope that every Latino that had the misfortune of hearing those comments or reading those comments, understands the assignment of what we have to do in this election coming on November fifth and send a strong message that our community should be respected,” Matos said.