Influencers spread false rumors about Haitian immigrants in Springfield

In Springfield, Ohio, a viral video surfaced on September 10, featuring Tyler Oliveira interviewing a local resident who claimed to have witnessed Haitian immigrants taking away numerous cats in a van. This claim was amplified by social media influencers and right-leaning figures, including Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance and former President Donald Trump, who spread unfounded rumors that Haitian immigrants were consuming pets. Local influencer Anthony Harris further propagated these claims by alleging that Haitian immigrants were killing ducks in a park, although he later admitted he had no evidence to support this. To bolster these false narratives, Vance's team shared a police report from a woman who suspected her Haitian neighbors of taking her cat, which led to further community tension. Dorsainvil, a local resident, clarified that a video of him driving was misrepresented and that he had not been involved in any accidents as claimed by Oliveira. The spread of these rumors reflects a long-standing pattern of targeting Haitian immigrants in the U.S. for political gain, as noted by Marcia Chatelain, a professor of African-American studies. Influencers have been criticized for failing to challenge these unproven claims, contributing to a climate of fear and misunderstanding within the community. As misinformation continues to circulate, local advocates are working to counter these narratives, emphasizing that pets are not part of the Haitian diet and striving to foster a more accurate understanding of the immigrant community's contributions to Springfield.