President Joe Biden denounced election-season attacks on the Haitian American community in the United States during a White House brunch celebrating Black excellence. Without naming him directly, Biden called out Republican leaders Donald Trump and JD Vance for spreading unfounded rumors about Haitian migrants and asylum-seekers, stating “there’s no place in America for that kind of rhetoric.”
The focus of the attacks has been Springfield, Ohio, where a growing Haitian American community has faced backlash. Tensions escalated after a Haitian national was involved in a car crash that killed a child, leading to increased hate towards the community. Unfounded rumors, including claims that Haitian Americans eat pets, have spread online, despite city officials denying any basis for them.
Trump and Vance have continued to repeat these rumors, with Trump even mentioning them in a presidential debate watched by millions. The increased scrutiny on Springfield has resulted in threats linked to anti-immigrant sentiment, including bomb threats that forced the evacuation of city buildings and schools.
Despite the threats and false rumors, Trump has doubled down on his attacks on the Haitian American community, promising a crackdown on immigration in cities like Springfield and Aurora, Colorado if re-elected. The situation highlights the dangerous impact of fear-mongering and misinformation on marginalized communities in the United States.
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