U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris sharply criticized “harmful” attacks on Haitian immigrants at a National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) panel in Philadelphia. The attacks, launched by former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator JD Vance, falsely claimed that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were stealing and eating the community’s pets.
The Democratic candidate for the November 5, 2024 presidential election expresses her deep concern about the spread of false information and the impact on the communities involved. “It’s a crying shame,” Harris said as she took questions from reporters on a panel organized by the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), adding that, ”My heart breaks for this community.”
Joe Biden’s vice president stressed the gravity of the situation and pointed out that Springfield’s local authorities had confirmed the lack of evidence to support these claims. According to a city spokesperson, there have been “no credible reports or specific complaints of pets being injured or abused by members of the immigrant community”.
Harris’s remarks are her most direct criticism of the false allegations to date, having avoided previous opportunities to comment. She called the allegations “exhausting” and “harmful” and suggested that many Americans were growing weary of such divisive rhetoric. “I think most people in our country, regardless of race, are starting to see through this nonsense and say, you know what, let’s move on,” Harris told the NABJ panel. “It’s exhausting, harmful, hateful and based on ancient things for which we should have no tolerance.”
Harris also condemned Trump’s misuse of the public trust, emphasizing the responsibility that comes with being a public figure. “When you are endowed with such a large microphone, it implies a profound responsibility, which is an extension of what must not be lost at this time, this concept of public trust,” she said. The vice president said Trump’s comments about Springfield’s Haitian community had further eroded trust in him.
“We have to say that you cannot be trusted to stand behind the seal of the President of the United States of America, engaging in this hateful rhetoric that, as usual, is designed to divide us as a country,” she added, addressing the consequences of Mr. Trump’s inflammatory language.
At the roundtable, the vice president had emphasized the consequences of these false claims on Springfield’s Haitian community. She also recalled that there were several bomb threats in Springfield following the accusations made by Donald Trump and his zealous defenders. The threats targeted schools, government buildings and public institutions, leading to evacuations and closures. Ms. Harris lamented the fact that some children in the community were forced to evacuate their schools because of the bomb threats, which occurred a few days ago. “Children. Children. A whole community in fear,” she lamented.
Kamala Harris also spoke about Trump’s assassination attempt at his West Palm Beach golf club, she reaffirmed her stance against political violence. “I checked on him and told him what I’ve said publicly: political violence has no place in our country,” Ms. Harris explained. “We can and must have healthy debates and discussions, but we must not resort to violence to solve these problems.”
Democratic candidate voices support for the Haitian community in Springfield target of racist attacks by Donald Trump
