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Republican vice presidential candidate Jay D. Vance continued to fuel racist rumors Sunday against Haitian immigrants living in Ohio, the state he represents in the Senate, despite the governor’s categorical denial of the allegations.
Springfield has been at the heart of the presidential campaign between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris for days, with unproven rumors circulating that Haitian immigrants in the city are stealing cats, dogs and other pets to eat.
Asked on CBS about the social media rumors, Vance said, “I’ve heard 10 accounts from my constituents in Springfield, Ohio, and all of them can be verified and confirmed.”
“Some of them came from direct testimonies, such as migrants stealing geese from a park to slaughter and eat them,” he added.
In recent days, these claims, made by Donald Trump during his televised debate with Harris, have led to bomb threats, schools being temporarily closed, police being put on alert and immigrants living in the city panicking.
“We condemn all acts of violence and threats,” Vance said, adding, “but we have to say that these terrible problems are caused by Kamala Harris’s open border policy in Springfield.”
Springfield, a predominantly white city, has seen its population grow in recent years. About 15,000 Haitians have arrived there, fleeing the serious crisis in their country, as the city and Ohio experience an economic boom.
When Republican Gov. Mike DeWine was asked about the rumors on ABC, he called them “ridiculous” despite his support for Trump.
“These rumors about Haitians eating dogs, cats or anything else have to stop,” the governor said.
“The Haitians are in Springfield legally. They came to work. Ohio is growing and Springfield is booming with a lot of businesses starting up there,” he explained.
“They came here to work for these companies that confirmed that they are excellent employees and that they are very satisfied with their performance, and that contributes to the economy,” he added.
