September 10, 2024
Contact: Paige Censale, [email protected] 

San Diego, CA – The Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) strongly condemns the recent comments made by Senator J.D. Vance and Republican Vice-President Candidate, in which he falsely and offensively claimed that Haitian immigrants are eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. These baseless and inflammatory remarks not only perpetuate harmful stereotypes but also contribute to the dangerous stigmatization of immigrant communities, particularly Black immigrants from the Republic of Haiti.

We call on Senator Vance to retract his statement and issue a public apology to the Haitian community and the people of Springfield. We urge leaders and public figures to use their platforms to uplift immigrant communities and foster an environment of respect, rather than perpetuating harmful and false narratives.

Executive Director of Haitian Bridge Alliance, Guerline Jozef, released the following statement: 
“It is not lost on us that Vance is doing this to distract and score political points as we head to the elections.
The false allegations are a clear example of the anti-Black racist and xenophobic nature of people like DJ Vance whose goals are to dehumanize Black communities around the country. Instead of making sure that our dear sister who is a Black American citizen received the support needed to properly address what was most likely a mental health issue, Vance used that to further cause harm to the entire Black community by creating this harmful narrative and attacking the Haitian immigrants in Springfield.

Haitian immigrants have been an asset to Springfield and have helped revitalize the economy and workforce. We must stand against bigotry, hate, racism and hold Mr. Vance, Elon Musk and Ted Cruz accountable who continue to use their power and position to attack, criminalize, and dehumanize Black communities.
At a time when Haitians and other immigrant communities are facing significant challenges, Senator Vance’s comments undermine efforts to promote understanding, unity, and inclusion. Haitians, like all immigrants, contribute positively to the cultural and economic fabric of this nation, and such divisive rhetoric serves only to inflame tensions and distract from meaningful dialogue about the real issues facing our communities.”

Erik Crew, Staff Attorney at Haitian Bridge Alliance released the following statement:
“This is the same old anti-Black playbook that we’ve seen for hundreds of years in Ohio being rolled out to divide and create hate, especially around election times,” said Erik Crew, Staff Attorney at Haitian Bridge Alliance. “I was born and raised in Cincinnati; my dad was born and raised in Cleveland; and our family was born and raised in Springfield, Ohio before that. White supremacist and anti-democratic movements have always used the claim that so-called Black savages are coming to destroy, especially when political power is up for grabs. This is no different. This time they are saying it is Haitians, and this time it is being used to try to score political points around immigration as well.”

Haitian Bridge Alliance remains committed to advocating for the dignity, rights, and humanity of all immigrants, and we stand in solidarity with the Haitian community in Springfield and across the United States.