Current:Home > ScamsHaitians in Ohio find solidarity at church after chaotic week of false pet-eating claims -ProgressCapital
Haitians in Ohio find solidarity at church after chaotic week of false pet-eating claims
View
Date:2025-04-12 06:42:55
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (AP) — For many Haitian immigrants, Sunday mornings in Springfield, Ohio, are spent joyfully worshipping God as they sing and pray in their native Creole. This Sunday, they needed that uplifting balm more than ever.
Their community is reeling — confused, frustrated, hurt — from false accusations that they are eating their neighbor’s cats and dogs. The now viral and highly politicized rumors are being fueled by former President Donald Trump, his running mate JD Vance and others, and violent threats against the community are upending daily life in their city.
“Jesus is with us in truth, and the truth is that Haitians are not eating pets and geese in Springfield,” said the Rev. Carl Ruby, preaching at Central Christian Church. He invited community members to join his congregation in prayer and peaceful protest of the false rumors leveled against their Haitian neighbors.
They also demanded an apology.
“It is truth that a retraction of these rumors will help to restore peace in Springfield,” Ruby said. “We respectfully call on all politicians and media figures who are promoting this rumor to help make Springfield great and safe again by speaking the truth about our community.”
Viles Dorsainvil, the leader of Haitian Community Help and Support Center in Springfield, accepted Ruby’s invitation to worship together at Central Christian, and was grateful to be relying on his faith.
“It’s important to be here because we’re Christian — despite everything, we worship in good times and bad times,” he said. “I’m relieved that I’m in the presence of God. It’s therapeutic.”
Carl Ruby, pastor at Central Christian Church, hugs Lindsay Aime during service, on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Springfield, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
And he had a message for Trump and Vance: “If they have the heart of God, they will think differently and speak differently.”
The rumors, spread on social media and by Trump during Tuesday’s televised presidential debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, have exacerbated fears about division and anti-immigrant sentiment ahead of the election in the mostly white, blue-collar city of about 59,000 where more than 15,000 Haitians now live and work.
Thousands of temporary Haitian migrants have legally landed in Springfield in recent years under the U.S.'s Temporary Protected Status program, as longstanding unrest in their home country has given way to violent gangs ruling the streets.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, has said the federal government needs to do more to help cities like Springfield serve the influx of migrants. On ABC’s “This Week,” DeWine called the Haitians good, hardworking people who are in the U.S. legally, and said the false rumors are a piece of internet garbage.
“There’s no evidence of this at all,” he said during the program.
Central Christian Church congregants stand to applaud members of the Haitian community during service, on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Springfield, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)
Despite the governor and local officials debunking the rumors, Vance reiterated the conspiracy theory on Sunday’s “Face the Nation” on CBS while blasting Harris on her U.S.-Mexico border policy.
At Central Christian Church, Ruby encouraged his congregation to help hand out thousands of cards around Springfield that had been printed in Creole and English with a message of support for Haitians. It reads” “I’m glad you are here. Christ loves you and so do I.”
As the service ended, Ruby praised parishioners for a beautiful moment amid what he called a storm of chaos. Looking at the Haitian members in the first pew and at the rest of his congregation, he asked them to come together in prayer: “Pray and think what it is to be a Haitian parent sending their child this week to school.”
One of those parents is Mia Perez, 35 an immigration lawyer whose 9-year-old daughter had to evacuate her school twice because of bomb threats to a nearby DMV this week.
“Kids in school are being asked by other kids: ’How does the dog taste? How does the cat taste?” Perez said, describing her daughter’s distress.
“She’s asking, ‘Are we the kind of Haitians who eat this kind of stuff? Is it true? What’s happening?’”
“This is a conversation that I was not ready to have with my daughter,” Perez said. “I felt disrespected of our culture.”
Among those attending Sunday’s service in Central Christian was Rose-Thamar Joseph, 40, who works at the Haitian Community Center.
“I was praying for peace and protection — for the Haitian community and all of Springfield,” she said. “I just want Springfield to go back to what it was a couple of months ago.”
__
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
veryGood! (97)
Related
- US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
- Broadway's Zelig Williams Missing: Dancer's Family Speaks Out Amid Weeks-Long Search
- Zoe Saldaña: Spielberg 'restored my faith' in big movies after 'Pirates of the Caribbean'
- Musk hails Starship demo as step toward 'multiplanetary' life; tests began with ugly explosion
- New Zealand official reverses visa refusal for US conservative influencer Candace Owens
- Sofia Richie Shares New Glimpse at Baby Girl Eloise
- Congress made overturning elections harder, but there are still loopholes | The Excerpt
- Arkansas Supreme Court rejects challenge to ballot measure that would revoke casino license
- Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
- Woody Johnson sounds off on optimism for Jets, Davante Adams trade
Ranking
- Matt Damon remembers pal Robin Williams: 'He was a very deep, deep river'
- The U.S. already has millions of climate refugees. Helene and Milton could make it worse.
- How do I handle poor attendance problems with employees? Ask HR
- Aaron Rodgers-Damar Hamlin jersey swap: Jets QB lauds Bills DB as 'inspiration'
- 'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
- The Daily Money: So long, city life
- People spend $20,000 at this resort to uncover secrets about their health. Is it worth it?
- Loved ones plea for the safe return of Broadway performer missing for nearly two weeks
Recommendation
Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
Ricky Pearsall returns to the 49ers practice for the first time since shooting
The U.S. already has millions of climate refugees. Helene and Milton could make it worse.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs a law aimed at preventing gas prices from spiking
Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
True Value files for bankruptcy after 75 years, selling to hardware rival Do It Best
Grey's Anatomy Writer Took “Puke Breaks” While Faking Cancer Diagnosis, Colleague Alleges
What college should I go to? Applicants avoid entire states because of their politics