Haitian migrants fear spike in racist violence in Ohio

Photo: Roberto Schmidt Agence France-Presse William Thompson, a Vietnam veteran who lives near a Haitian community support and assistance center, sits on the porch of the house where he lives and says he welcomes the arrival of Haitians in the city because the United States “is the land of the free.”

Nicholas Roll – Agence France-Presse in Springfield

Published at 9:51 p.m. Updated at 10:23 p.m.

• United States

“Some want to leave, others have already done so”: In Springfield, Ohio, migrants who fled gangs in Haiti now fear racist violence after Donald Trump repeated the false accusation that they eat pets.

In this small, predominantly white city in the northeastern United States, several schools and the city hall were evacuated this week after bomb threats, and threats against the Haitian community are increasing.

Romane Pierre, manager of a Haitian restaurant, closed earlier than usual on Thursday, worried about her employees walking home late at night. According to him, several migrants of Haitian origin have already left the city and others are considering it.

In recent days, Republicans, led by Donald Trump, have seized on false allegations of an “invasion” of migrants in Springfield, attacking the dogs and cats of local residents to eat them.

The local police have denied this theory, as have many fact-checking media outlets including AFP.

“They are eating dogs,” the former president nevertheless asserted during the debate that pitted him against Democrat Kamala Harris on Tuesday, bringing tensions to a head.

“It is a sad reality, which is causing panic,” declared AFP the director of a Haitian home in the city who was the target of threats on Thursday evening, which the federal police are investigating.

Viles Dorsainvil mentions insults and calls to “get out,” which originate from a “political agenda” consisting of waving the scarecrow of illegal immigration.

Economic renewal

However, it is immigration that has allowed this city of less than 60,000 inhabitants in 2020, which was following the demographic decline typical of the post-industrial north of the United States, to regain a certain economic dynamic.

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A city plan has helped attract new businesses and, with them, between 10,000 and 15,000 Haitians who came by word of mouth to respond to the influx of work.

But the job creation was not accompanied by policies to address the systemic problems the city faced, including poverty.

Pre-existing tensions in the housing market, as well as in medical and educational infrastructure, have worsened, says Wes Babian, a former pastor at a local Baptist church.

And complaints from residents have begun to take on a growing “racist tinge,” reaching “almost dangerous” levels over the past year, he adds.

Many members of the Haitian community are in legal situations or have protected status. Some have been living in the United States for several years.

But they are regularly accused of having been brought to Springfield by buses chartered by the federal government and of living on public assistance unlike the local population which is wasting away.

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“Real threat”

Philomene Philostin was naturalized and came to settle there to open a grocery store, which sells Haitian products in particular.

Others, like Fritz, his pregnant wife and their two-year-old child, struggle to make ends meet. He arrived at the US-Mexico border five months ago and was able to cross to seek asylum.

The food aid he receives cannot be used to pay rent and they are currently staying with a friend.

He found a night job as a cleaner in the food industry, but his pay “hasn’t been paid yet,” he told AFP, before a passing car yelled “Fuck you” out the window.

Since Donald Trump’s comments during the debate, Daniel has only left his house for essential work. He has a specific temporary immigration status, linked to Haiti’s political and security situation.

“The threat is real,” he said, but it comes from a “minority” that is spreading this “hateful rhetoric.” He has lived in Springfield for four years and has no plans to leave.

And he can count on some locals, who are on his side.

Sitting on his porch, decorated with an American flag, Vietnam War veteran William Thompson says the United States is “the land of the free” and Haitian migrants “have the opportunity to come here to be free.”

And if, as many fear, things get out of hand, he has his “guns inside,” he laughs.