Topline
Vice President Kamala Harris denounced the “hateful” rhetoric around Springfield, Ohio, and said it’s “a crying shame” that life for many has been disrupted by bomb threats related to the spread of false claims about Haitian migrants eating cats and dogs, in her most extensive comments yet about Springfield.
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris Vice is interviewed by National ... [+]
Key Facts
Harris—who was speaking at a National Association of Black Journalists panel in Philadelphia on Tuesday—said her “heart breaks for the community” that has been “put in fear” following the spread of false claims amplified by former President Donald Trump and vice presidential nominee Ohio Sen. JD Vance.
“We’ve got to say that you cannot be entrusted with standing behind the seal of the president of the United States of America, engaging in that hateful rhetoric that, as usual, is designed to divide us as a country,” Harris said when asked about claims spread by Trump and Vance.
False rumors that Haitian migrants were eating dogs and cats in Springfield spread last week after Vance discussed the claim and Trump repeated it on the debate stage against Harris.
The claim has been debunked by local officials who previously told Forbes there have been “no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community.”
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Tangent
On Monday, Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine announced state troopers would be stationed throughout Springfield City School District buildings following “a series of unfounded bomb threats” that seek to “fuel the current discord surrounding Springfield.” A number of schools and other public buildings like City Hall and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles have been evacuated over the last week following the threats, and two colleges switched to remote operations.
Key Bakground
Threats in Springfield increased last week after Vance and Trump, along with others in the Republican party, spread the false rumors that pets were being eaten by Haitian migrants. Springfield has seen an influx of about 20,000 migrants from Haiti in recent years, many of whom are there through a temporary federal program. The city has seen a recent uptick in manufacturing jobs, as well, and DeWine pushed back on the false claims about migrants over the weekend by saying many members of the Haitian community “are very good workers” and are helping to improve the Springfield economy. Like Harris, Springfield Mayor Rob Rue has also said political leaders on the national stage should “understand the gravity of the words that they have for cities like ours.” Despite the pushback from local leadership, Vance defended himself Sunday by saying he was trying to highlight problems that were previously ignored.
Crucial Quote
“I learned a long time ago in my career … when you have that kind of microphone in front of you, you really ought to understand at a very deep level how much your words have meaning,” Harris said, adding: “I learned at a very young stage in my career that the meaning of my words could impact whether somebody was free or in prison.”
