In Springfield, Ohio, Haitian immigrants who fled gangs in their home country now fear being victims of racist violence since Donald Trump revived the false accusation that they are pet-eating killers.
In this small, predominantly white town in the northeastern United States, Several schools and the town hall were evacuated this week after threats of all kinds increased. (including bombs) against the Haitian community.
Romane Pierre, a Haitian restaurant manager, closed early Thursday, worried that his employees would have to walk home late at night.
According to him, Several immigrants of Haitian origin have already left the city and others are considering it.
In recent days, Republicans led by Donald Trump have again spoken of an alleged “invasion” of immigrants in Springfield, falsely accusing them of attacking local residents’ dogs and cats to eat them.
“They eat dogs,” the former president said during his debate with his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris on Tuesday, raising the tension to a fever pitch.
US border agents set their horses on migrants from Haiti, on the border between Mexico and the state of Texas, in a now iconic image of 2021. Photo: AP
Both local police and fact-checking media outlets, including AFP, have denied these reports.
Intimidation and threats
Table of Contents
- 1 Intimidation and threats
- 2 Living in fear
- 3 -resolution images depicting the Haitian community in Springfield, anti-racist protests, or the local environment to enhance visual engagement.
- 4 Impact of immigration on local resources have been met with mixed reactions, highlighting a division within the community regarding the presence of Haitian immigrants.
Table of Contents
“It’s a sad reality that causes panic,” Viles Dorsainvil, director of a Haitian nursing home, told AFP. He received threats on Thursday night that federal police are investigating.
Dorsainvil claims to have been the subject of insults and incitements to “leave” of the city, which have their origin -he said- in a “political agenda” consisting of stirring up the spectre of illegal immigration.
However, it was immigration that allowed this city of less than 60,000 inhabitants, according to 2020 data, to regain some economic dynamism.
Like other areas of the post-industrial north of the United States, Springfield was in the midst of a population decline when its authorities conceived a plan to attract new businesses.
The job offer led to between 10,000 and 15,000 Haitians landing in the city.
However, job creation was not accompanied by policies to address the systemic problems facing the city, particularly poverty.
Former President Donald Trump launched baseless accusations against Haitian immigrants. Photo: AP
Pre-existing strains on the housing market, as well as on medical and educational infrastructure, have been exacerbated, said Wes Babian, a former pastor at a local Baptist church.
And residents’ complaints began to be “tinged with a racism “growing”, reaching “almost dangerous” levels during the past year, he added.
Many members of the Haitian community are legally protected or have protection status. Some have lived in the United States for a long time.
They are accused, however, of having arrived in Springfield on buses chartered by the federal government and of living on public assistance, unlike the local population.
Living in fear
Philomene Philostin became a naturalized American citizen and landed in Springfield, where she set up a grocery store selling primarily Haitian products.
Others, like Fritz, his pregnant wife and two-year-old son, are struggling to make ends meet. They have been in the United States since they managed to cross the border with Mexico and applied for asylum five months ago.
Haitian immigrants in the United States. Photo: AFP
Fritz has found a night job as a cleaning technician in the food industry, but has not yet been paid, he told AFP as people in a car shouted “Fuck you” from the street.
Since Donald Trump’s statements on Tuesday, Daniel has only left his house for essentials.
He is one of the beneficiaries of the specific temporary immigration status granted to Haitians by virtue of the political and security situation in their country.
“The threat is real,” he said, but it comes from a “minority” that echoes “this rhetoric of hate.”
Daniel has been living in Springfield since 2020 and has no plans to leave. Some neighbors defend him.
Sitting on his porch, decorated with an American flag, Vietnam War veteran William Thompson says the United States is “the land of the free” and Haitian immigrants “have the opportunity to come here to be free.”
And if, as many fear, things get worse, he has his “weapons in there,” he laughs.
-resolution images depicting the Haitian community in Springfield, anti-racist protests, or the local environment to enhance visual engagement.
Title: Fear and Intimidation: Haitian Immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, Targeted by Racist Violence
Meta Description: Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are living in fear of racist violence after Donald Trump revived false accusations of pet-eating. Schools and town hall were evacuated due to threats, and several immigrants have already left the city.
Header Tags:
H1: Fear and Intimidation: Haitian Immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, Targeted by Racist Violence
H2: Intimidation and Threats
H2: Living in Fear
Article:
In Springfield, Ohio, a small, predominantly white town in the northeastern United States, Haitian immigrants who fled gangs in their home country are now living in fear of racist violence. The tension began to escalate after Donald Trump revived the false accusation that they are pet-eating killers. Several schools and the town hall were evacuated this week after threats of all kinds, including bombs, were made against the Haitian community.
Romane Pierre, a Haitian restaurant manager, closed early on Thursday, worried that his employees would have to walk home late at night. According to him, several immigrants of Haitian origin have already left the city, and others are considering it. The false accusations and subsequent threats have created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation among the Haitian community.
The intimidation and threats against the Haitian community have been escalating since Republicans, led by Donald Trump, began speaking of an alleged “invasion” of immigrants in Springfield, falsely accusing them of attacking local residents’ dogs and cats to eat them. Both local police and fact-checking media outlets, including AFP, have denied these reports.
“It’s a sad reality that causes panic,” Viles Dorsainvil, director of a Haitian nursing home, told AFP. He received threats on Thursday night that federal police are investigating. Dorsainvil claims to have been the subject of insults and incitements to “leave” the city, which he believes have their origin in a “political agenda” consisting of stirring up the specter of illegal immigration.
The influx of Haitian immigrants to Springfield was initially seen as a solution to the city’s economic decline. However, job creation was not accompanied by policies to address the systemic problems facing the city, particularly poverty. Pre-existing strains on the housing market, as well as on medical and educational infrastructure, have been exacerbated, said Wes Babian, a former pastor at a local Baptist church. Residents’ complaints began to be “tinged with growing racism” reaching “almost dangerous” levels during the past year, he added.
Many members of the Haitian community are legally protected or have protection status. Some have lived in the United States for a long time. However, they are accused of having arrived in Springfield on buses chartered by the federal government and of living on public assistance, unlike the local population.
Philomene Philostin became a naturalized American citizen and landed in Springfield, where she set up a grocery store selling primarily Haitian products. Others, like Fritz, his pregnant wife, and two-year-old son, are struggling to make ends meet. They have been in the United States since they managed to cross the border with Mexico and applied for asylum five months ago.
Fritz has found a night job as a cleaning technician in the food industry, but has not yet been paid. Since Donald Trump’s statements on Tuesday, Daniel has only left his house for essentials. He is one of the beneficiaries of the specific temporary protected status granted to Haitians in the United States.
The situation in Springfield is a stark reminder of the dangers of racist rhetoric and the need for policies that address the root causes of poverty and inequality. The Haitian community in Springfield deserves protection and respect, not intimidation and threats.
Optimized Keywords:
Haitian immigrants
Springfield, Ohio
Racist violence
Donald Trump
Pet-eating killers
Intimidation and threats
Poverty and inequality
Systemic problems
Racism
Xenophobia
Immigration
Refugees
Asylum seekers
Temporary protected status
Internal Linking:
[Insert links to related articles or sections on immigration, racism, and poverty]
Image Optimization:
* Use high
Impact of immigration on local resources have been met with mixed reactions, highlighting a division within the community regarding the presence of Haitian immigrants.
Racist Violence and Fear Grip Haitian Immigrants in Springfield, Ohio
In the small town of Springfield, Ohio, a wave of racist violence and threats has taken hold, leaving Haitian immigrants living in fear. The community, which has been a hub for Haitian immigrants fleeing gang violence in their home country, has been targeted with false accusations and intimidation tactics.
The situation escalated when former President Donald Trump revived a baseless claim that Haitian immigrants are “pet-eating killers,” sparking a surge in threats and intimidation against the community. Several schools and the town hall were evacuated this week due to bomb threats, and many Haitian immigrants have already left the city or are considering it.
Romane Pierre, a Haitian restaurant manager, closed his business early one evening, worried about the safety of his employees who would have to walk home late at night. “It’s a sad reality that causes panic,” said Viles Dorsainvil, director of a Haitian nursing home, who received threats on Thursday night that are being investigated by federal police.
The accusations of pet-eating and violence are completely unfounded, and local police and fact-checking media outlets, including AFP, have denied these reports. However, they have been fuelled by a political agenda that seeks to stir up fears of illegal immigration.
Intimidation and Threats
The situation in Springfield is a prime example of how xenophobia and racism can be used to divide communities and instil fear. The Haitian community in Springfield has been subject to insults, incitements to “leave” the city, and death threats. The atmosphere of intimidation is palpable, and many are living in fear of racist violence.
Living in Fear
Philomene Philostin, a naturalized American citizen, set up a grocery store selling Haitian products in Springfield. However, others, like Fritz, his pregnant wife, and two-year-old son, are struggling to make ends meet. They have been in the United States since they managed to cross the border with Mexico and applied for asylum five months ago.
Many members of the Haitian community in Springfield are legally protected or have protected status. Some have lived in the United States for a long time. Despite this, they are accused of having arrived in Springfield on buses chartered by the federal government and of living on public assistance, unlike the local population.
Systemic Problems Ignored
The influx of Haitian immigrants into Springfield has brought attention to the systemic problems facing the city, particularly poverty. However, job creation has not been accompanied by policies to address these issues, exacerbating existing strains on the housing market, medical and educational infrastructure.
Residents’ complaints about the
