U.S. Senator JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate, is facing significant backlash after promoting baseless and racist rumors about Haitian immigrants in Ohio. On Monday, Vance took to X (formerly Twitter) to claim that Haitian immigrants were abducting and eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, further stoking fears and inflaming anti-immigrant sentiment.
Vance’s post on X read: “Months ago, I raised the issue of Haitian illegal immigrants draining social services and generally causing chaos all over Springfield, Ohio. Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country. Where is our border czar?”
This inflammatory statement echoes a wider narrative being spread by Republicans in the lead-up to the 2024 elections. However, the accusations were quickly debunked by Springfield’s city officials and local law enforcement.
The rumors of pet abduction and consumption began nearly 100 miles away in Canton, Ohio, where a mentally ill woman—not an immigrant—was arrested last month for allegedly killing and eating a cat. Additionally, a photo circulating online that supposedly showed a Haitian immigrant carrying a dead bird in Springfield turned out to be an image of an American citizen taken in Columbus, Ohio, about 50 miles away.
Springfield City Manager Bryan Heck refuted Vance’s claim, stating: “There have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured, or abused by individuals within the immigrant community.” Local police also confirmed that they had received no reports of pet abduction or consumption by anyone, let alone immigrants.
Despite these official denials, Vance’s post was amplified on social media by prominent figures such as Senator Ted Cruz and Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X. Cruz shared a meme with the caption, “Please vote for Trump so Haitian immigrants don’t eat us.” Musk re-posted an AI-generated meme from House Judiciary Committee Republicans showing Trump hugging animals with the caption, “Protect our ducks and kittens in Ohio!”
The rumor, although thoroughly debunked, quickly spread across right-wing platforms, further fueling anti-immigrant rhetoric. As The Washington Post columnist Philip Bump observed: “In MAGA world, the alleged pet-eating is already a matter of fact, and Republican elected officials, including Vance, are hurrying to join the clout rush, the scramble to get attention and likes and followers by treating it as a serious issue.”
Vance’s false accusations are part of a broader history of racist and xenophobic narratives that often emerge around election time. These claims are aimed at stoking fear and division, particularly among voters concerned about immigration. Erik Crew, staff attorney at the Haitian Bridge Alliance, commented, “This is the same old anti-Black playbook that we’ve seen for hundreds of years in Ohio being rolled out to divide and create hate, especially around election times.”
Crew continued, “White supremacist and antidemocratic movements have always used the claim that so-called Black savages are coming to destroy, especially when political power is up for grabs. This is no different. This time they are saying it is Haitians, and this time it is being used to try to score political points around immigration as well.”
Despite the harmful rhetoric, Haitian immigrants in Ohio are contributing to local communities and the economy. “The fact is Haitian immigrants have been coming to Springfield seeking to come and contribute to U.S. democracy and the economy, and Springfield and Ohio will benefit from that like U.S. communities have benefited in the past from Black immigrants’ contributions,” Crew emphasized.
The false narrative being spread by Vance and other Republicans has generated outrage from many quarters. Dave Zirin, sports editor at The Nation, expressed his disgust bluntly: “You are a racist piece of shit,” he wrote to Vance on X. “You lie like Trump without an inkling of his twisted charisma.”
As the rumor continues to gain traction in right-wing circles, it’s clear that Vance’s strategy is to play into fears about immigration in an attempt to rally voters. However, this tactic is not without its consequences. As Bump pointed out, the internet rewards hyperbole, but these kinds of extreme claims often crumble when subjected to broader public scrutiny.
The baseless accusations being spread by Vance and his supporters are not just dangerous; they distract from real discussions about immigration policy. By focusing on sensationalized and racist falsehoods, these politicians divert attention from legitimate concerns about the state of the immigration system and the treatment of immigrants.
Furthermore, this type of rhetoric contributes to a hostile environment for immigrants, particularly Black immigrants, who are frequently the targets of such campaigns. As Crew pointed out, “The rumors about Haitians in Springfield and pets have already been debunked, but we won’t stop hearing them because certain people will want to keep spreading them as the election nears.”
As the 2024 election draws closer, it’s likely that these kinds of divisive and false narratives will continue to surface, particularly from politicians like JD Vance. However, it is critical for the public to discern fact from fiction and to reject harmful and racist conspiracy theories. Vance’s unfounded claims about Haitian immigrants have been debunked, but the damage caused by such rhetoric may continue to reverberate. As Erik Crew noted, “This is no different from past tactics used to divide communities and create fear.”
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