From Springfield to Chicago, Haitians speak out against lies and hate

On Sept. 22, the heart of downtown Chicago pulsed with the powerful call to end Haitian hate. Proudly draped in blue and red, Haitian-American organizations gathered outside the Kluczynski Federal Building, their voices rising in defiance of a shocking falsehood: that Haitian immigrants are eating the pets of Springfield, Ohio. United by both pride and outrage, the community rallied to set the record straight.

The lie has since traveled through social media and even mainstream media during this political cycle with former President Trump mentioning it during the recent debate against Vice President Kamala Harris.

“They’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats,” Trump said during an answer to a question about immigration. “They’re eating the pets of the people that live there, and this is what’s happening in our country, and it’s a shame.”

Trump’s running mate, Senator JD Vance (R-OH), doubled down on the baseless claim in an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash.

“The American media totally ignored this stuff until Donald Trump and I started talking about cat memes. If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’m going to do,” admitted Vance.

A large group of Haitian-Americans and supporters gathered in the rain under the flamingo sculpture to show solidarity and speak to Haiti’s rich culture and countless contributions while being productive citizens of this country. Many of the speakers made sure to speak to the fact that the rally was being held in a city founded by a Haitian, Jean Baptiste Point DuSable.

Haitians have a long history of resilience and fighting for freedom as being the only Black republic in the Western hemisphere to fight and win their freedom by defeating both the French and Spanish militaries. January 1, 1804 is celebrated as the day of Haitian independence around the world. Haiti has been in a state of political instability for many years; it is a popular opinion that white supremacy is punishing the nation and her people — in the forms of paying a crushing debt to its former colonizer, France, and U.S. interventions, for example — because of that rebellious spirit. 

Rolling out spoke with social worker and artist, Ameera P. Lys about why it was important to be at the rally.

“It was important for me because my parents immigrated from Haiti,” Lys stated. “I’m very proud of my Haitian identity. … When we’re mischaracterized, disrespected [and] mistreated, I can’t just stand around and do nothing about that. I don’t want us to feel like we have to defend any crazy statement that’s made, but when it has the effect of harming people in my community like it is for those in Springfield, Ohio and elsewhere around the country, I have to stand up and do something and say something”

Ohio resident and Haitian-American Sonia Pierrelus explained what the climate was like in that Midwestern state for Haitians since the lie started to spread.

“Everyone is going on with their lives but they are definitely scared and worried and want to return back to a sense of normalcy,” she replied. “Children are afraid and are being bullied with questions about eating pets. Some people are fleeing Springfield. Many want to stay and keep on fighting. They’ve built homes and wealth; they have businesses and don’t feel like it’s really time for them to move out. I have a family member who has two houses and a business, but his wife wants to leave Springfield because of fear of attacks on their lives,” 

Take a look at a few pictures from the rally below.