The president of Haiti’s transitional council, Edgar Leblanc Fils, addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, thanking those who have shown solidarity toward migrants in Springfield, Ohio.
The city has experienced bomb threats following false claims from former President Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), that Haitian immigrants in the city are eating residents’ pets.
The AP reported Monday that schools, government buildings and city officials in Springfield have experienced more than 30 bomb threats.
“On behalf of the entire Haitian people, I would like to extend a brotherly greeting to all friends of Haiti that have shown solidarity towards the migrants from our country and, in particular, those living in Springfield, Ohio, in the United States,” Fils said.
“The active participation of Haitian migrants at various levels of life in the United States is tangible and significant,” he added. “In this regard, the passions that naturally arise during an election campaign should never serve as a pretext for xenophobia or racism in a country such as the United States, a country forged by immigrants from all countries which has become a model for democracy for the world.”
Trump falsely claimed that Haitian immigrants in Springfield were eating pets during the presidential debate against Vice President Harris earlier this month. Trump and Vance have repeatedly amplified the now-debunked theory, fueling a media firestorm and growing fears in the city, particularly among its Haitian population.
The city has taken different precautions following the unfounded claims.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) sent state Highway Patrol officers to monitor schools and Mayor Rob Rue issued an emergency proclamation allowing the city to address public safety concerns more quickly.
Last week, DeWine wrote an op-ed in The New York Times, in an attempt to paint a different picture of Springfield and its “rich history” than the one portrayed by the false claims.
Some Springfield schools had also temporarily closed in-person and moved class online amid the bomb threats.