City Councilor Juan Anderson-Burgos reads a resolution condemning the statement made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe.
Reminder Publishing screen capture by Tyler Garnet
HOLYOKE — During the Jan. 21 City Council meeting, the City Council unanimously approved a resolution presented by City Councilor Juan Anderson-Burgos condemning the statement made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at a Donald Trump political rally in October 2024.
During this rally, Hinchcliffe made a joke that compared Puerto Rico to a “floating island of garbage.”
Not only is Anderson-Burgos Puerto Rican, but Holyoke has the greatest number of Puerto Ricans per capita of any community outside of Puerto Rico.
He explained he wanted to take a stand against this joke that he deemed as derogatory to his and many other residents’ heritage.
The order read that the “statement made at the political rally of a candidate seeking to represent every American including those who live in and come from Puerto Rico. This statement was insulting, ignorant and dismissive of the culture and contributions of Puerto Ricans.”
The resolution was read into the record and concluded, “Now therefore be it resolved that the City Council of Holyoke, Massachusetts condemns the statement made by Tony Hinchcliffe at a Trump political rally held on Oct. 27, 2024 at Madison Square Garden as an offensive and malicious disrespect of our Puerto Rican neighbors, friends, community members, fellow citizens and most importantly, fellow humans; and be it further resolved that we are committed to holding our state and federal leaders accountable to the values and commitments expressed in this resolution.”
City Councilor Patti Devine, who signed onto the resolution as well, recalls hearing the joke at the time and thought it was “despicable.”
She further stated, “I don’t care if it was a comedian or not but many of us or our parents maybe I should say, many, many years ago probably turn of the century, no Irish need apply so this has got to stop so I would like us as a City Council to do roll call vote and vote unanimously.”
Each member of the City Council voted yes to adopt the resolution.
This resolution comes on the heels of a joint statement from Mayor Joshua Garcia and Holyoke Public Schools Superintendent Anthony Soto affirming the rights of immigrants.
The letter read, “As your mayor and as your superintendent of schools, we are affirming our commitment to ensure and protect the rights of all Holyoke residents and employees, and especially our newcomer and immigrant families whose safety and well-being are now imperiled by recent announcements at the federal level.”
It was recently announced by the Department of Homeland Security that schools and churches would no longer be considered “sensitive areas,” with the intent to allow agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection agencies to enter those locations under certain circumstances.
While the city anticipates an announcement from Massachusetts state leaders in the near future regarding this decision, Soto and Garcia wanted to remind all Holyoke residents that as a city and as a school district, we stand by our commitment to protect the rights and safety of everyone who lives or works in our community.
Holyoke Public Schools shared guidance with staff that affirms the district’s commitment to upholding the rights of newcomer and refugee children of school-age.
Garcia also reissued an Executive Order Relating to the Enforcement of Civil Immigration Detainers, which reaffirms a 2014 executive order made by former Holyoke Mayor Alex B. Morse.
It states, in part, “that the Holyoke Police Department will neither honor nor enforce a civil immigration detainer requested from the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or the United States Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) when such order seeks the excessive and/or unnecessary detention of an individual in department custody at the Holyoke Police Department beyond the point at which he or she would otherwise be released.”
The joint letter concluded, “We urge everyone to look out for one another in the days, weeks, and months to come.”
