Democrats go on offense against false claims about Haitians: 'Racist fearmongers'
Source: The Hill
09/22/24 2:00 PM ET
House Democrats have launched an aggressive campaign to push back against the false claims from some top Republicans that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are eating their neighbors pets. Led by members of the House Haiti Caucus, the Democrats are warning that the false narrative from the GOP accusers most notably former President Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (Ohio) has made Haitian immigrants the target of bigoted aggression and violent threats in Springfield and beyond.
The lawmakers are pushing a resolution condemning racism toward Haitians, while urging Republicans to drop their bogus claims amid heightened concerns from even some within the GOP that the narrative is damaging community relations in Springfield and other immigrant-heavy areas around the country.
They have chosen to spew racist and xenophobic lies as a political tool and weaponize rhetoric to place innocent families in harms way, Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), one of three co-chairs of the Haiti Caucus, told reporters outside the Capitol Friday. Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), head of the Congressional Black Caucus, echoed that message, saying the baseless pet-eating claim has forced Haitian communities around the country to live in fear because of a lie.
We can only hope and pray that the false and racist rhetoric by the former president and his running mate and other extremists do not lead to violence in Springfield or any other Haitian or immigrant community, Horsford said. Enough is enough. The racist fear-mongering must stop, and it must stop now.
Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4891606-democrats-rumos-haitian-migrants/
Link to RESOLUTION - H.Res.1473 - To condemn racism and bigotry towards Haitian people, to celebrate the vast contributions of people of Haitian descent to the United States, to condemn the spread of misinformation, and to call on Americans to affirm our shared humanity.
Link to PRESS RELEASE - CLARKE AND HAITI CAUCUS CO-CHAIRS STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH HAITIAN COMMUNITY AND INTRODUCE RESOLUTION CONDEMNING ANTI-HAITIAN ATTACKS
Media-ignored Press Conference -