Protesters in Puerto Rico burn American flags as Kamala Harris arrives to tout 'smarter' solar panels: Demonstrators wanting island to be a state and demanding a Gaza ceasefire says VP is 'not welcome here'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13229211/kamala-harris-puerto-rico-protesters-burn-flags-gaza-ceasefire.html

• Puerto Rico continue to experience rolling blackouts as they struggle to rebuild their power grid

• The Biden administration continues supporting solar infrastructure to help residents

• Crowds of people were kept away from the event to prevent protesters from interrupting the vice president

Vice President Kamala Harris visited Puerto Rico on Friday to promote more solar power on the island, even as residents continue struggling to rebuild basic power infrastructure and demonstrators took to the streets to protest her visit.

The vice president visited a family home in San Juan with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Department of Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman and Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi.

Harris and Granholm promoted the implementation of rooftop solar panel electric systems on homes in the area. 'We expect that this Summer will be the Summer of solar, where we really see the quick implementation and installation of solar plus storage,' Granholm said.

Harris commented that she visited with the mother of a multigenerational family living in the home.

‘I was able to spend some time with her and like all the matriarchs of the families we know where the power base is, we’re talking about energy and solar, that’s where the power is right there,' she said.

Puerto Rico suffered catastrophic damage from the 2017 Hurricanes Irma and Maria as workers are still working on rebuilding the power grid. Residents on the island still experience rolling electricity blackouts.

Harris spoke about the importance of rooftop solar panels providing power for homes suffering the lack of electricity.

‘We are talking about people’s homes, not only in terms of a structure but the community and of course the island and what we all must understand should be a priority for restoring, not only the beauty but the infrastructure that then houses so much good and important work,’ she said during her speech.

The home Harris visited had a Puerto Rico flag draped from the roof, as she celebrated the green energy initiative as an important recovery milestone. Protesters also took to the streets ahead of Harris' arrival demanding statehood for the island territory and a ceasefire in the Israel war with Gaza. Demonstrators waved Puerto Rico and Gaza flags while holding signs protesting her visit and even set fire to American flags.