Ahead of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's speech in Orlando this afternoon, Puerto Rican superstar Ricky Martin endorsed her on his social media. 

 
Martin told BuzzFeed News: 

“Our community has been continuously attacked by Donald Trump and other Republican presidential candidates. A few months ago I raised my voice against Trump’s hateful rhetoric and standing with me was Hillary Clinton. Time after time, Hillary has shown her commitment to the Latino community and that is why I’m proud to support her and to stand with her because ella está con nosotros y nuestras familias.”

Martin is the second major Puerto Rican artist to endorse the Democrat after Marc Anthony pulled her onstage during a Miami concert. Clinton and other candidates, most notably Jeb Bush, are coveting the Puerto Rican vote of the Interstate 4 corridor, which has proved highly influential in the last presidential elections. 



Central Florida community activist and Florida A&M law student Phillip Arroyo says he was asked by the Florida Democratic Party and Clinton’s campaign to present the candidate at her speech in Orlando, but he declined, according an article he wrote for Latino Rebels. 

"I have nothing against Hillary Clinton," Arroyo says. "She is an amazing public servant, I campaigned for her in 2008...I cannot stand on a stage in Orlando tomorrow with a smile on my face while presenting the Democratic Party frontrunner at a rally, while U.S. corporations are exploiting my island of Puerto Rico as a tax haven, saving billions of dollars in U.S. corporate taxes, all while my fellow countrymen and women are suffering high poverty levels and ultimately, their worst economic crisis ever, while many remain silent. I wish you the best, Hillary."