To understand the Republicans latest racist attack on Haitian immigrants, you must first understand the history of Haiti. Toussaint L'Ouverture and his lieutenant Jean-Jacques Dessalines led Haiti’s Revolution against France, and by overthrowing their French slaveholders, Haiti declared their independence in 1804, becoming the first free Black republic in the world. The Haitian Revolution sparked fear of a slave uprising in the United States (U.S.) and led President Thomas Jefferson and other colonial powers to enact harsh economic policies towards Haiti. The effects of those polices can still be seen and felt today throughout Haiti. Jefferson even described Toussaint and his army as cannibals – an early harbinger of the racist attacks that would affix themselves to Haitians and their culture.
The most recent racist smear against Haitians began when Senator JD Vance helped elevate a lie started by right-wing Republicans and neo-Nazis about Haitian immigrants living in Springfield, Ohio, who were allegedly eating dogs and cats. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Vance without any evidence, wrote “Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn't be in this country…” The twice impeached, 34 times convicted felon, former President Donald Trump went on to repeat that lie during the Presidential debate and has since doubled down on that lie - going as far as saying that he would deport those Haitian immigrants in Springfield “back to Venezuela”. The Haitian immigrants in Springfield that Trump and Vance speak of are here legally.
The attacks don’t end there. Vance has gone on to say that a Haitian immigrant murdered an 11-year-old child, Aiden Clark, who died in a traffic accident involving a Haitian immigrant who was driving without a license. Clark’s father has asked the Trump campaign to stop exploiting the accidental death of his son. That hasn’t stopped Vance from his racist attacks - he went on to claim; without evidence, that Haitian immigrants are bringing “communicable diseases” to Ohio.
The attack on immigrants isn’t new for Trump who once described Mexicans as rapist and previously said that African immigrants were from “shithole countries”. And this isn’t the first time that Trump has smeared Haitians. In 2021, Trump said "Take a look at what's happening in Haiti. A tremendous problem with AIDS. . . Many of those people will probably have AIDS and they're coming into our country and we don't do anything about it.” But he and Vance’s latest attacks on Haitian immigrants signifies a new, darker turn for their campaign.
It is important to state that there is no evidence whatsoever of any immigrants – especially Haitian immigrants eating pets. And Vance himself has said that he is willing to “create stories”; also known as lying, to get media attention. The local authorities in Springfield, Ohio has debunked this racist smear. Trump and Vance have made the calculation that the only way they can win in November is by tapping into racism and xenophobia. They have no issues to run on, so they run on fear. They want you to fear the “other”. To view those who may not look, act, or sound like you as a threat – and they lie and say they are the only ones who can keep you safe from that threat.
The memes and videos around the attack on Haitian immigrants may be funny, but don’t lose sight of what is happening here – Republicans have placed a bullseye on a vulnerable population with little protection in a small Ohio town. They are inviting violence on Haitian immigrants and anyone who they deem don’t belong. So, let us stand up against these racist attacks and those who wish to divide us because today it’s Haitian immigrants, but tomorrow it’ll be another marginalized, vulnerable community.
The most recent racist smear against Haitians began when Senator JD Vance helped elevate a lie started by right-wing Republicans and neo-Nazis about Haitian immigrants living in Springfield, Ohio, who were allegedly eating dogs and cats. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Vance without any evidence, wrote “Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn't be in this country…” The twice impeached, 34 times convicted felon, former President Donald Trump went on to repeat that lie during the Presidential debate and has since doubled down on that lie - going as far as saying that he would deport those Haitian immigrants in Springfield “back to Venezuela”. The Haitian immigrants in Springfield that Trump and Vance speak of are here legally.
The attacks don’t end there. Vance has gone on to say that a Haitian immigrant murdered an 11-year-old child, Aiden Clark, who died in a traffic accident involving a Haitian immigrant who was driving without a license. Clark’s father has asked the Trump campaign to stop exploiting the accidental death of his son. That hasn’t stopped Vance from his racist attacks - he went on to claim; without evidence, that Haitian immigrants are bringing “communicable diseases” to Ohio.
The attack on immigrants isn’t new for Trump who once described Mexicans as rapist and previously said that African immigrants were from “shithole countries”. And this isn’t the first time that Trump has smeared Haitians. In 2021, Trump said "Take a look at what's happening in Haiti. A tremendous problem with AIDS. . . Many of those people will probably have AIDS and they're coming into our country and we don't do anything about it.” But he and Vance’s latest attacks on Haitian immigrants signifies a new, darker turn for their campaign.
It is important to state that there is no evidence whatsoever of any immigrants – especially Haitian immigrants eating pets. And Vance himself has said that he is willing to “create stories”; also known as lying, to get media attention. The local authorities in Springfield, Ohio has debunked this racist smear. Trump and Vance have made the calculation that the only way they can win in November is by tapping into racism and xenophobia. They have no issues to run on, so they run on fear. They want you to fear the “other”. To view those who may not look, act, or sound like you as a threat – and they lie and say they are the only ones who can keep you safe from that threat.
The memes and videos around the attack on Haitian immigrants may be funny, but don’t lose sight of what is happening here – Republicans have placed a bullseye on a vulnerable population with little protection in a small Ohio town. They are inviting violence on Haitian immigrants and anyone who they deem don’t belong. So, let us stand up against these racist attacks and those who wish to divide us because today it’s Haitian immigrants, but tomorrow it’ll be another marginalized, vulnerable community.
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