Editor’s note: Fact-checkers at The Associated Press, Reuters and PolitiFact have said the vice president’s comment that disaster relief will be directed toward “communities of color” has been taken out of context and misrepresented online.

“Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at a DNC event about distributing equitable resources to help with the effects of climate change. She did not say that Hurricane Ian relief will be distributed based on race, as some claimed online,” the AP noted.

 

Harold Hutchison, DCNF

Vice President Kamala Harris said Friday that aid distributed in the wake of natural disasters like Hurricane Ian should be “based on equity.”

“It is our lowest-income communities and communities of color that are most impacted by these extreme conditions and impacted by issues not of their own making—” Harris said before being interrupted by Priyanka Chopra Jonas at a Democratic National Committee Women’s Leadership Forum.

“Women,” Jonas added.

You can’t make this up.

Kamala Harris said the administration will be giving hurricane resources “based on equity” by directing funds to “communities of color.”

I guess everyone else is just screwed. 🤦🏻‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/75y4JfoYD7

— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) September 30, 2022

“Absolutely,” Harris replied. “And so we have to address this in a way that is about giving resources based on equity, understanding that we fight for equality but we also need to fight for equity, understanding not everyone starts out in the same place and if we want people to be in an equal place sometimes we have to take into account disparities and do that work.”

Harris’ comments drew fire from some conservatives who took the comments to mean that race was being factored into aid distribution.

“Kamala Harris couldn’t even make it through five minutes before bringing up social justice and equity,” journalist Ian Miles Cheong tweeted. “If Hurricane Ian gave a chance for the Biden administration and its lackeys to behave like normal politicians, they completely failed to pass the bar.”

Kamala Harris couldn’t even make it through five minutes before bringing up social justice and equity. If Hurricane Ian gave a chance for the Biden administration and its lackeys to behave like normal politicians, they completely failed to pass the bar. https://t.co/uERVpcYSeV

— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) September 30, 2022

Christina Pushaw, rapid response director for Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ reelection campaign, disputed Harris’s comments.

“This is false. @VP’s rhetoric is causing undue panic and must be clarified. FEMA Individual Assistance is already available to all Floridians impacted by Hurricane Ian, regardless of race or background,” Pushaw tweeted. Pushaw reiterated that aid was being distributed regardless of race or background in multiple tweets Friday night.

This is false. @VP‘s rhetoric is causing undue panic and must be clarified. FEMA Individual Assistance is already available to all Floridians impacted by Hurricane Ian, regardless of race or background. If you need assistance visit https://t.co/x9X8AstnzL or call 1-800-621-3362. https://t.co/idsw1PX86x

— Christina Pushaw 🐊  (@ChristinaPushaw) September 30, 2022

Hurricane Ian made landfall Wednesday afternoon near Fort Myers, Florida, knocking out power and causing extensive damage. The hurricane hit Charleston, South Carolina, Friday afternoon, according to Fox Weather.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.

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