Springfield: A Reason to Vote for Harris
Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric Tears a Town Apart
If undecided voters need an additional reason to reject Dangerously Divisive Donald at the voting booth, consider the real impact of recent fabricated remarks Trump made during his September 10, 2024, debate with Vice President Kamala Harris. Among the 30 + lies he spouted that evening, Trump attacked the Hattian community of Springfield, Ohio, with this hugely disgusting fib:
“In Springfield, they’re [the Haitian immigrant community] eating the dogs, the people that came in. They’re eating the cats. They are eating people’s pets.”
Following his remarks about Springfield’s Haitian community, bomb threats caused the evacuation of Springfield City Hall, two schools with a large Haitian student population, and Ohio’s local motor vehicle facility. Why the motor vehicle facility? More on that connection later.
The mayor and city manager spoke out in pain over what has become (thanks to Trump) a crisis. “We are hurting,” said the mayor. “We need help, not the hate and amplified political rhetoric in the current highly charged presidential election cycle.”
The city manager said this:
“It is disappointing that some of the narrative surrounding our city has been skewed by misinformation circulating on social media and further amplified political rhetoric in the current highly charged presidential election cycle is extremely consequential and, yes, dangerous.”
Perhaps they both excluded Trump and Vance from their comments because Ohio is a red state, and Vance is the state’s current United States Senator. I will not be so kind. The blame for this dangerous situation falls squarely on the shoulders of candidate Trump and his careless running mate, Vance. Between Trump’s reckless lies before and during the nationally televised debate and Vance’s multiple attacks on Haitian immigrants, made to highlight President Biden’s perceived immigration failures, tensions in Springfield are high. The bomb threats are not just a hateful response to an influx of immigrants; they are a direct response to Trump’s and Vance’s incendiary words.
Since his infamous descent from the elevator in 2015, Donald Trump has shamelessly blamed immigrants for the country’s woes. He first tried to ban Muslims. He said Mexico brought crime and drugs. Trump separated families at the southern border and built a wall to divide us from our southern neighbors literally. Nationalizing false local rumors that Haitians eat pets is just sour-tasting icing on a vile cake.
The controversy did not begin with the recent debate. Many Haitians have indeed immigrated to Springfield. The city population has increased almost 30% since 2020. Haitians have contributed to the local economy and filled many manufacturing, distribution, and other jobs. Employers are pleased with their contributions. At the same time, the city struggles with its growth—the influx of arrivals has overwhelmed the city’s housing market, schools, and healthcare industry.
Long before last week’s debate, remarks from Ohio Senator J.D. Vance (Trump’s running mate) drove the controversy. Vance scapegoated Haitians as examples of President Biden’s failed immigration policies. Recently, Vance highlighted a tragic fatal automobile accident to score political points on immigration.
In 2023, a Haitian immigrant motorist struck a school bus and killed 11-year-old Aiden Clark. The incident caused community anger, and Vance posted, “A child was murdered by a Haitian migrant” on X (Twitter). There was no murder—Aiden’s death resulted from a tragic accident, but Vance has no shame. His hateful and irresponsible post caused Nathan Clark, Aiden’s heroic father, to criticize Vance’s shameless attempt to use his son’s death to score political points:
“My son was not murdered. He was accidentally killed by an immigrant from Haiti. This tragedy is felt all over this community, the state, and even the nation, but don’t spin this towards hate.”
Will his simple yet powerful words be senselessly ignored? Because of Trump, Vance, and others of their ilk, particular residents still call Haitians “invaders” and make other racist comments. However, not all Republican officials behave like Trump and Vance. Some are true to their oaths to represent all citizens, Democrat and Republican, immigrants or those born in the U.S. Ohio’s Republican Governor, Mike DeWine, recently pledged $2.5 million to the city’s health care system and agreed to increase police personnel to protect the community. At least one Republican official understands his civic responsibility and is doing well by doing good.
Springfield is a microcosm of America. Which of the two presidential candidates is the better choice to unite Springfield? If “Springfield” happened in your city, which candidate would you vote for to unite its citizens? The choice is clear—Kamala Harris is the sensible choice. As President Biden often says, we are in a desperate battle for the soul of America. America’s soul can never again be entrusted to Donald Trump. We’ve been down that road, and we must not go back.