While President Donald Trump gets criticized for his slow response to the plight of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria decimated the American territory, many in the Hip Hop community have stepped up to help. Included among them are Rihanna, Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez, Fat Joe and Common.
Rihanna called out the President on Twitter and Instagram this week by mentioning him in tweets concerning Puerto Rico, since it appeared he was more concerned with the issue of NFL players kneeling during the National Anthem.
Rih attempted to divert Trump’s attention to Puerto Rico by mentioning him in several tweets about the devastation that hit the island’s 3.4 million inhabitants. In one tweet, the Bajan singer mentioned Trump in a clip showing how much damage the hurricane did.
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Hurricane Maria made landfall on the island last Wednesday (September 20) and is reportedly the worst hurricane to hit the territory in over 90 years. It is also the second hurricane to hit Puerto Rico this month (Hurricane Irma skirted by earlier in September).
Dear @realDonaldTrump I know you've probably already seen this, but I just wanted to make sure!
Don't let your people die like this. pic.twitter.com/mDO848JAUx— Rihanna (@rihanna) September 28, 2017
#PuertoRicohttps://t.co/tD6afk7PVM@realDonaldTrump ????????
— Rihanna (@rihanna) September 26, 2017
— @realDonaldTrump —-> https://t.co/fE1Rd3bMDp
— Rihanna (@rihanna) September 27, 2017
"I know that leaders aren't supposed to cry…But we are having a humanitarian crisis here," San Juan mayor tells @DavidBegnaudpic.twitter.com/pa7Hd6HZ1n
— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 26, 2017
Fellow Boricua Jennifer Lopez is donating $1 million of the money she earned from her Las Vegas shows to provide relief to Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. She also launched a GoFundMe for a new initiative called Somos Una Voz (We Are One Voice) with her ex-husband Marc Anthony. The initiative is described as an alliance among industry heavyweights to help Puerto Rico recover. Somos Una Voz has raised over $100,000 so far and is slated to benefit American Red Cross, Reach Out Worldwide, United Way and United For Puerto Rico.
Pitbull sent his own private plane to the U.S. territory to transport cancer patients to the mainland so they could continue necessary treatments and chemotherapy.
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Puerto Rico is still in dire need of help. The massive 50-mile-wide hurricane knocked out the entire island’s power grid and a week later, a majority of homes are still without electricity. Gasoline is scarce and there is barely any clean drinking water.
On Thursday morning (September 28), a statement announced that Trump had temporarily waived the Jones Act, which requires all goods shipped between U.S. ports to be on ships built, owned and operated by America. He stated the previous day that he was getting pushback from the shipping industry about waiving the act, which was slowing relief efforts. “A lot of people that work in the shipping industry … don’t want the Jones Act lifted,” he said. “And we have a lot of ships out there right now.”
At @ricardorossello request, @POTUS has authorized the Jones Act be waived for Puerto Rico. It will go into effect immediately.
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) September 28, 2017
Puerto Rico is currently getting help from the U.S. government through FEMA. It’s estimated the hurricane has caused between $40 billion to $85 billion in damages, mostly in Puerto Rico, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.
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See more social media posts from members of the music community supporting and spreading the word on how to help out Puerto Rico below.
We are #PuertoRicoStrong! The people must come together to help our brothers + sisters in Puerto Rico. pic.twitter.com/03H3n29Vqe
— COMMON (@common) September 28, 2017
Pray for Puerto Rico and every where affected by these disasters gos is always great
— FAT JOE (@fatjoe) September 22, 2017
https://t.co/Q2N17qS0CF So only some Americans are eligible for affordable aid…I wonder why? #racist@realDonaldTrump you're horrible.
— Lauren Jauregui (@LaurenJauregui) September 27, 2017
Would be happy to help you bring the aid ?? https://t.co/R42rWBTX7o
— Daddy Yankee (@daddy_yankee) September 28, 2017
I’ve set up a @YouCaring page to aid the relief efforts in Puerto Rico. We need your help in this fight.
Donate: https://t.co/SKjHbMlijspic.twitter.com/oKgrCNoqGR
— Carmelo Anthony (@carmeloanthony) September 22, 2017
Please retweet and continue to help us spread the word to help our sisters and brothers in need ?? CON FUERZA ?? #unitedforpuertoricopic.twitter.com/SfaVgNru6K
— LA LA (@lala) September 25, 2017
My people are in need. Please help mehttps://t.co/KxHupLM20upic.twitter.com/r5WTpJCZnJ
— Ricky Martin (@ricky_martin) September 22, 2017
Para donaciones visita:https://t.co/bHpIwX7Zkq o https://t.co/K3ZgjAA5FF. Ayudenme por favor a sacar nuestra Isla y nuestra gente adelante. pic.twitter.com/4NTBNoAhEE
— Yandel (@yandeloficial) September 23, 2017
Hurricane Hotline numbers for Puerto Rico to help and check on family and friends: ??
(202) 778 0710
(787) 777-0940
(877) 972-2400 pic.twitter.com/du4aBaxG6s— MAXWELL (@_MAXWELL_) September 21, 2017
We're expanding our efforts to help Puerto Rico & the USVI, where our fellow Americans need us right now. Join us at https://t.co/o5oCWOtiJShttps://t.co/L2xArjc9N7
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 26, 2017
