I’m Puerto Rican, and my territory is not a “floating garbage island”. But people who think I’m safe – even if it’s disguised as humor.

When comedian Tony Hinchcliffe took the stage at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Sunday for a MAGA rally in support Donald Trumphis presidential campaign, he didn’t just cross the line, he erased it completely. What he called “humor” was a steady stream of racist slurs and dangerous conspiracy theories, from stereotypes about Latinos having more children to the “great replacement theory,” the ideology behind violent hate crimes committed by white men against black communities. This is not a joke. It’s a weapon and I’m tired of being the target and so are the rest of my men.

Growing up Puerto Rican and Black American, I was aware early on that I stood out among many of my peers and classmates. I learned to be proud of my roots, believing that America was a place where everyone, despite their differences, belonged. But that notion suddenly changed as I got older and witnessed the rise of Trump and the MAGA movement, which turned people who look like me into the villains of a story I never wrote. This shift has forced me and countless other Latinos to face a painful reality: In America today, we have become the scapegoats in a narrative of fear, blamed and vilified to suit a political agenda.

Being labeled “an invader” or “an alien” is more than an insult. It is a form of dehumanization that destroys the sense of belonging. To hear these words echoed in speeches, on social media and in public policy is not only painful, but frightening. It’s one thing when the words come from a stranger, but it’s another thing when they come from a podium, wrapped in a supposed seal of patriotism.

When Hinchcliffe responded to criticism of his performance at X, addressing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, he wrote: “These people have no sense of humor. Wild that a vice presidential candidate would take time out of his “busy schedule” to analyze a joke taken out of context to make it seem racist. I love Puerto Rico and vacationing there. I made fun of everyone… look at the whole set. I’m a comedian, Tim… it might be time to change your tampon.”

Are you on vacation in Puerto Rico? Might as well say you can’t be racist because you have a black friend. And the context? Hinchcliffe placed himself firmly at the center of this ‘context’. These were not “jokes”. It was hostility cloaked as comedy, delivered with the arrogance of someone who doesn’t understand—or care—how these words affect real lives. These words don’t just hurt Latinos; they ripple through every marginalized community. When a group is denigrated, it sets a precedent that any group can be targeted. The anti-immigrant sentiment espoused by Trump and echoed by his followers sends the message loud and clear: When people show you who they are, believe them.

Today, they are Puerto Rican. Tomorrow, they will be Mexicans again. A few weeks ago, Haitians were eating dogs and cats. America’s strength, at least the version of America I thought I knew, has always come from the diversity of its people. We allow hate disguised as comedy, or outright hate, to take over. I beg you to reject it.

And here’s a harsh reminder for you, Tony: Over 4,000 Puerto Ricans died in Hurricane Maria because of the failed response under the Trump administration. That wasn’t a punchline. Negligence turned into a tragedy. Your so-called “comedy” does not absolve you of the harm caused by your message tonight which you normalize and perpetuate. It will be playing on loop at every MAGA party (I’m sure you’ll be attending), and we don’t expect you to apologize. You never do.

People who know “Kill Tony” may remember May 2021. Hinchcliffe found his way into the eye of the “cancel culture” storm. A racial slur hurled at fellow Asian-American comedian Peng Dang during a concert in Austin, Texas catapulted him into a whirlwind of backlash. The incident, captured on video and widely shared on Twitter, led to Hinchcliffe being dropped by his talent agency, WME.

It doubled even more in October 2023, when he stirred the pot even more by appearing on the controversial far-right YouTube show “TRIGGERnometry”, where conspiracy theories are thrown around like popcorn. This time, he painted Dang as “a Chinese spy”, claiming the incident was “an attack orchestrated by the Chinese media”.

When hatred is celebrated under the guise of humor, its roots only deepen.

It doesn’t have to be this way. If we refuse to accept this hatred as “just politics” or “just jokes,” we can find a way back to each other. No one is trying to stifle the comedy. I’m a supporter of the art form, but we need to hold leaders, entertainers and everyday people accountable for their words and actions.

In the upcoming elections, we have a choice. We can let Tony feel “vindicated” and right about the picture he painted so wrongly tonight by allowing hate to shape decisions. Or we can choose compassion, understanding and unity. We can reject the politics of division and work to bridge the gaps between us rather than build walls that divide us.

I’m reminded of something comedian Anthony Jeselnik said last year on Theo Von’s “This Past Weekend” podcast when he said, “All these comics now I think almost the point is to get in trouble. “I’m a comic. I’m allowed to say whatever I want. It is wrong.”

Jeselnik then quotes Andy Warhol: “Art gets away with it.” If people are upset, then you haven’t gotten away with it.

So no, Tony, I don’t think you’re getting away with it.