Call on Congressman to Denounce “Dangerous” Remarks
By Hank Russell
Nassau County elected officials and local leaders in the Haitian-American community joined faith leaders and local residents at Bethany French Baptist Church in Elmont on September 12 to condemn what they said were racist, false and dangerous remarks made by former President Donald Trump, Senators J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), about Haitian immigrants.
The rally also featured leaders from prominent Haitian American organizations, including the Elmont Cultural Center, Haitian American Family of Long Island (HAFALI), and New York Friends of Haiti. Together, they pledged to continue advocating for Haitian immigrants and holding elected officials accountable.
Those in attendance say Trump, Vance and Cruz falsely accused Haitian immigrants of eating pets,which have sparked outrage throughout the Haitian community. They stressed the urgency of condemning these false narratives, which fuel dangerous, racially motivated conspiracy theories.
It was reported that, during his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump made that claim. “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs, the people that came in,” Trump said. “They’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there. This is what’s happening in our country, and it’s a shame.”
Vance had reiterated the allegation as well, but posted on social media on September 10 that “It’s possible, of course, that all of these rumors will turn out to be false. “ However, he pointed out that a Haitian immigrant “who shouldn’t have been there” killed a child, and the city’s school and healthcare systems are overwhelmed and communicable diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis “are on the rise.” Vance also said rents have risen “so fast that many Springfield families can’t afford to put a roof over their head.”
Cruz was also condemned, this time for posting a meme on social media showing a photo of two cats hugging each other with the caption reading, ““Please vote for Trump so Haitian immigrants don’t eat us.” The caption was followed by three laughing emojis.
Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages (D-Valley Stream), the first Haitian American elected to the Nassau County Legislature, delivered a powerful statement condemning the silence of many elected officials, including Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-Garden City), who represents more than 32,000 Haitian Americans in Congress.
“These comments are not just lies, they are dangerous and rooted in racism,” said Solages. “Haitian immigrants and Haitian Americans deserve better than to be the target of xenophobic attacks. Continued silence from local Republicans like Rep. D’Esposito is nothing short of a dereliction of duty to the very community he represents. It’s time for him to stop putting his head in the sand for political gain and stand with the people of this district, many of whom are Haitian immigrants. His silence speaks volumes about his priorities, and it’s clear they do not lie with the people of Nassau County.”
Legislator Siela Bynoe (D-Westbury), who represents a sizable Haitian American constituency in areas like New Cassel and Uniondale added: “This is not the first time we’ve seen hateful rhetoric targeting vulnerable communities, and it won’t be the last unless leaders take a stand. These comments are dangerous, and silence only emboldens hate. We demand that our elected officials, regardless of party, speak up and denounce these baseless attacks on Haitian immigrants. The people of Nassau County deserve leadership that values truth, unity, and respect—not division and fear. … Anything less is an endorsement of racism and division.”
“I’m not upset because I’m personally hurt; I’m upset for the young people we’ve been working with, who deserve to feel proud of their heritage,” said Mimi Pierre-Johnson, the founder and CEO of the Elmont Cultural Center. “Across this country, Haitians have always been quiet, hard-working contributors. We may work quietly, but we are a force. To every Haitian who feels afraid because of these hateful remarks, I say: do not be scared. We are the descendants of revolutionaries who freed the first Black nation, and we will always stand up to defend our community and support all nations.”
Mimose Valbrun, LMSW, of the Haitian American Families of Long Island, added, “From a social work perspective, the impact on our children will be profound. These hateful remarks will lead to bullying and name-calling in schools, and that harm will ripple through our community. It’s critical that these false statements are retracted, for the sake of our children’s well-being and their future.”
“This is not a time for political games,” said a representative of New York Friends of Haiti. “This is about human decency and the safety of our communities.”
Long Island Life & Politics reached out to the Trump campaign. Karoline Leavitt, the national press secretary for the Trump national campaign, said in a statement, “We hope the media will continue to cover the stories of the very real suffering and tragedies experienced by the people of Springfield, Ohio which have been largely ignored by the liberal mainstream media until now. While the media may find these stories and experiences unimportant and inconvenient, President Trump will continue giving a voice to Americans who are expressing their concerns about the influx of illegals and rising migrant crime in their communities.”
LILP has also reached out to Cruz, Vance and D’Esposito’s offices and is waiting to hear back.