Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden‘s campaign on Sunday announced a new bilingual commercial with artist Marc Anthony paying tribute to survivors of the deadly Hurricane Maria that swept through Puerto Rico in 2017 leaving at least 2,975 dead.
Marc Anthony asked “not to forget” the disaster of Hurricane Maria
The ad “Forbidden to Forget” is broadcast in Florida and Pennsylvania, both in English and Spanish, features the narration of the outstanding singer when it commemorates the third anniversary of Maria’s destruction in Puerto Rico.
PROHIBIDO OLIVDAR-FORBIDDEN TO FORGET, the failed response to Hurricane Maria compared to Harvey and Irma, that contributed to the deaths of 4,645 American Puerto Rican’s.#HurricaneMaria3Years #PuertoRico #4645BoricuasLosthttps://t.co/jMCIAzaIKE
— Margarita 🇵🇷 (@AHappyMargarita) September 20, 2020
In Florida there is a large population of Puerto Ricans, according to the American Community Survey 2018, conducted by the US Census.
Anthony claims in the commercial that it was the Puerto Ricans who “pulled their chests out” in the face of Puerto Rico’s tragedy with the onslaught of the devastating Category 4 hurricane, one of the largest on the Saffir-Simpson intensity scale of 5.
“It’s hard to relive the destruction of our homes, the crying of those who lost a loved one (…) Forgetting is forbidden. We were the ones who took our chests out and rebuilt. That’s when it became clear that the well-being of our family is completely in our hands”
Marc Anthony said.
The ad shows images of people standing on the rubble of their homes, people trying to remove mud from the streets, rescue those trapped and rebuilding areas.
Biden’s campaign said the announcement also focuses on Puerto Rico’s strength in unity.
“When President Donald Trump‘s failed response to Hurricane Maria left Puerto Rico stranded his fate, neighbors took a step forward to take care of each other and help rebuild the island again. Marc Anthony implores his audience to remember that the power to build a better future is in their hands,” he said.
Trump announced Friday that he will deliver nearly $13 billion in aid to Puerto Rico for rebuilding the power grid and repairing schools, an announcement that was criticized as that aid should have been allocated long ago.
As part of the Biden for President media advertising campaign, $65 million was invested last week in television, radio and media and digital platforms.
