The Puerto Rican Leadership Council (PRLC) today condemned Orange County Republican Party Chairman Lew Oliver for his racially-tinged comments, calling on him to apologize to the Puerto Rican community and to attend diversity training classes.
Carlos Guzman, president of the Puerto Rican Leadership Council said, Oliver had made many ignorant comments, including describing Puerto Ricans’ “highest aspiration [as having] a nice secure government job.”
“Many Puerto Ricans strive for the same American dream that Mr. Oliver’s ancestors dreamed about,” said Guzman in a statement. “It is those type of insulting comments and lack of understanding of the Hispanic community during Mr. Oliver’s dismal decade as party chair that have contributed to the lack of voter registration.”
Guzman added that, irrespective from where Puerto Ricans have come, “they are American citizens and want the opportunity to succeed like Mr. Oliver has had, while profiting from back room deals like lobbying and secretly texting commissioners to stop Hispanic families from having access to paid sick time.”
The PRLC has demanded Oliver apologize to the Puerto Rican community and attend diversity training. The Council also called on the Republican Party to denounce Oliver for his “ignorant comments.”
