Amid harmful lies about Haitian immigrants, members of the diaspora vow to tell their own story

Soundside

They’re repeated over and over in debates, speeches and media appearances during this presidential campaign: harmful lies about Haitian immigrants.

Springfield, Ohio has been at the center of the fabrications. Former President Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance have falsely asserted that Haitian immigrants are eating people’s pets.

Despite thorough debunking by local officials, including the Republican Governor of Ohio – Trump and Vance have doubled down on these falsehoods.

The dehumanizing rhetoric didn’t exactly shock members of the Haitian diaspora in the United States, but it has saddened them and put people in Springfield at risk.

Guest:

David Zhu Pierre-Louis, founder of Kay Tita

Relevant Links:

New York Times: Far From Ohio, Haitian Americans Feel the Sting of Threats in Springfield

New York Times: Trump’s Derision of Haitians Goes Back Years

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.