FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. The recent ludicrous claims by US presidential candidate Donald J. Trump that legal Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio have been seizing and eating cats, dogs and geese in public parks reflect a centuries-long racism toward the people of Haiti. The shocking predacious activities that Trump and his allies have described over the past week are the latest example of a disturbing and long history of US racial prejudice that Haitians have been forced to endure since their ancestors overthrew their French colonisers and established the world’s first Black republic back in 1804.
This use and abuse of Haiti and Haitians to spread fear and racial hatred is an age-old tactic. In 2016, Trump targeted Haitian voters in Florida to undermine his opponent and then Secretary of State Hilary Clinton for her controversial role in Haitian affairs. As president, he returned that support by calling Haiti a “shithole” country. Now he has sunk to unimaginable depths by endorsing historic racism, despicable stereotypes and violent misinformation of a remarkable nation whose ancestors supported the United States in its struggle for democracy.
In this joint statement with our friends at Ghetto Biennale, the Haiti Support Group stands in solidarity with our Haitian allies in denouncing in the loudest possible terms Donald Trump’s racist and hate-filled comments. This is more than political point-scoring from a candidate whose decade-long political career has been built upon a catalogue of irresponsible comments. It is a blatantly demeaning accusation which purposely targets people of African ancestry. In a just world, Donald Trump would be disqualified and made to apologise to the Haitian immigrant community for these dangerously incendiary comments which, once again, have led to inexcusable violence.
Together, we must all fight the hatred that Trump has pronounced by presenting reality to this dangerous power. We ask media outlets in the United Kingdom and online to publicly denounce these comments for what they are by reporting that there is absolutely no supporting present or historical proof for these vile claims. Haitian immigrants, by much greater evidence, have been law-abiding and supportive members of the community in Springfield, Ohio as they are in the many places they have settled around the world.
Racism of any form should never be tolerated or gone unremarked especially when uttered by those seeking high office.
Trump’s racist lies are playing out precisely as intended. In solidarity with our Haitian brothers and sisters, we refuse to remain silent.
The Haiti Support Group
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. The recent ludicrous claims by US presidential candidate Donald J. Trump that legal Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio have been seizing and eating cats, dogs and geese in public parks reflect a centuries-long racism toward the people of Haiti. The shocking predacious activities that Trump and his allies have described over the past week are the latest example of a disturbing and long history of US racial prejudice that Haitians have been forced to endure since their ancestors overthrew their French colonisers and established the world’s first Black republic back in 1804.
This use and abuse of Haiti and Haitians to spread fear and racial hatred is an age-old tactic. In 2016, Trump targeted Haitian voters in Florida to undermine his opponent and then Secretary of State Hilary Clinton for her controversial role in Haitian affairs. As president, he returned that support by calling Haiti a “shithole” country. Now he has sunk to unimaginable depths by endorsing historic racism, despicable stereotypes and violent misinformation of a remarkable nation whose ancestors supported the United States in its struggle for democracy.
In this joint statement with our friends at Ghetto Biennale, the Haiti Support Group stands in solidarity with our Haitian allies in denouncing in the loudest possible terms Donald Trump’s racist and hate-filled comments. This is more than political point-scoring from a candidate whose decade-long political career has been built upon a catalogue of irresponsible comments. It is a blatantly demeaning accusation which purposely targets people of African ancestry. In a just world, Donald Trump would be disqualified and made to apologise to the Haitian immigrant community for these dangerously incendiary comments which, once again, have led to inexcusable violence.
Together, we must all fight the hatred that Trump has pronounced by presenting reality to this dangerous power. We ask media outlets in the United Kingdom and online to publicly denounce these comments for what they are by reporting that there is absolutely no supporting present or historical proof for these vile claims. Haitian immigrants, by much greater evidence, have been law-abiding and supportive members of the community in Springfield, Ohio as they are in the many places they have settled around the world.
Racism of any form should never be tolerated or gone unremarked especially when uttered by those seeking high office.