Racist claims by right-wing Republicans about Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, are fueling attacks against the immigrant community. Some families were keeping their children from school to protect them the day after the presidential debate.

The morning after former President Donald Trump repeated racist claims about Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, some Haitian families are keeping their children home from school for their safety, according to an area activist. Those who allowed their children did so, but with heavy hearts.

“She [my niece] was scared, but I told her to go, that God would protect,” said one Haitian resident, who asked that she not be identified publicly for fear of reprisal.

“We’re all victims this morning,” said the woman, who moved to Springfield six years ago. “They’re attacking us in every way.”

Aside from the anxiety caused by Tuesday night’s debate, the woman also said her cars have been vandalized twice in the middle of the night. She woke up one morning to broken windows and another to acid thrown on the vehicle. She’s added cameras to her driveway and tried to report the incidents to the police to no avail.

  • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
    58·
    2 months ago

    It’s insane how much we have regressed with respect to this.

    This country has always been racist, but at least since I’ve been alive, the general consensus is that racism is bad and it was never acceptable to be openly racist without being socially ostracized (to be fair, I’m referring to the region of the US where I grew up. I’m sure it varied by region).

    The rise of Trump, and the ubiquity of social media has empowered these people to step out of the shadows, I guess, and show the true face of over 1/3 of voters in this country.

    It fucking sucks to see

    • Sway@lemmy.worldEnglish
      14·
      2 months ago

      This isn’t even the first time he’s done this, remember what happened with Covid and Asian Americans? Just look at the hate groups that support him, he never really distances himself from them, and he riles them up or gives them a target whenever it behooves him to do so.

    • Flocklesscrow@lemm.eeEnglish
      131·
      2 months ago

      What we always suspected is now uncontestable; the US is rotting from within and racism is our disease.

    • ansiz@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      2 months ago

      It’s really insane if you listen to Reagan talking about immigrants being the strength of the nation and keeping the USA young and growing. And how if we ever stop with immigration or would ruin the country.