Brooklyn College Haitian Institute denounces racist claim that migrants are eating neighbors’ pets

September 13, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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FLATBUSH — THE CUNY HAITIAN STUDIES Institute at Brooklyn College issued a statement Thursday denouncing the “racist and xenophobic narrative” right-wing extremists are spreading regarding Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. “We demand that the malicious and dangerous lie about Haitian immigrants in Springfield abducting and eating their neighbors’ pets be deleted from all social media platforms, including X, formerly known as Twitter,” the Institute, headed by Haitian scholar Dr. Marie Lily Cerat, wrote in part. Springfield city officials have confirmed the claim is entirely unfounded. Prominent Republicans — including VP candidate JD Vance and Texas Sen. Cruz — have joined with white supremacists and X owner Elon Musk to spread the debunked claim online, NPR reported. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump repeated it during Tuesday night’s debate, and was immediately fact-checked by moderator David Muir.

Threats against the Haitian community are increasing since Trump, who has called immigrants “animals” and “not human,” spread the false narrative, according to U.S. News & World Report.

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