On Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris took a strong stance against former President Donald Trump, criticizing him for perpetuating false and harmful narratives about Haitian immigrants. This rhetoric has incited real-world repercussions in Springfield, Ohio, including bomb threats and intimidation against local families.
“It’s gotta stop,” Harris asserted in a lively interview with three reporters hosted by the National Association of Black Journalists in Philadelphia. “We need to make it clear that someone who engages in that kind of hateful rhetoric, meant to divide us as a country, cannot be trusted to represent the United States of America.”
The controversy ignited during a recent debate between Trump and Harris on September 10. Trump invoked baseless and racist myths about Haitian immigrants, suggesting they were involved in bizarre and criminal acts. His running mate, Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, has further fueled these claims through interviews and social media, asserting they were based on “firsthand accounts from my constituents.” This unfounded rhetoric has had serious consequences, leading to evacuations and lockdowns across Springfield, including at city buildings, medical centers, and schools.
Both Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Springfield Mayor Rob Rue, both Republicans, have firmly denounced these baseless claims. They emphasized that there is no truth to the stories about the city's immigrant community, which includes many Haitians legally residing in the U.S. under temporary protected status. Mayor Rue told TIME that the recent threats have targeted several key locations: city commissioners, a municipal employee, three schools, city hall, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and the Ohio License Bureau Southside.
Harris highlighted the gravity of the situation by asking the audience to imagine being young children excited for school picture day, only to be evacuated due to a bomb threat—a real scenario experienced by Springfield residents. “When you are given a platform as large as Trump’s, there’s a tremendous responsibility that comes with it,” Harris emphasized. “It’s truly heartbreaking to see the impact of this rhetoric on families and children in that community.”
Trump often touts his support for law enforcement, but Harris pointed out the irony in his actions. She noted that the spreading of false narratives that lead to violent threats diverts crucial resources from local and federal law enforcement. “You claim to support law enforcement,” Harris said. “Yet, law enforcement resources are being redirected to address threats that emerged from these misleading and dangerous claims. This community was thriving before this happened.”
Harris also suggested that Trump’s recent comments about Haitians reflect a troubling pattern of denigrating behavior toward people of color. She recalled Trump’s controversial call for the death penalty in the 1989 Central Park Five case, where the accused were later exonerated, and his early career issues involving discrimination against Black families in housing. The NABJ event on Tuesday followed Trump's interview at the organization’s annual conference in July, where he falsely claimed that Harris has not always identified as Black.
In summary, Harris’s remarks underscore a broader critique of Trump’s divisive and harmful rhetoric, highlighting the real-world impacts of such statements and calling for greater accountability for those who wield significant influence.
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