To combat the hatred brought on by rumors that Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, are eating people’s pets (a false claim by JD Vance and later echoed by Trump), residents have formed a movement named ‘Conquer With Love.’
The dangerous rhetoric has led to bomb threats, ugly accusations, and outright bigotry. Despite the allegations proven to be false, Trump has doubled down on the ridiculous claim since he needs an enemy to unite his followers.
Just this week, hundreds of Springfield residents crowded Rose Goute Creole Restaurant, a Haitian-owned eatery, to show the Haitian population that hate has no place in their town.
“Springfield is diverse,” city resident Steve McQueen, who helped arrange the act of “organized love.” “We know Springfield is full of love. [It] does not have the hate that is being told to the rest of the country and world as they’re even talking about.”
To address the other false claim — that all the Haitians are illegal immigrants — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (Republican) said this:
“What we know is that the Haitians who are in Springfield are legal. They came to Springfield to work. Ohio is on the move and Springfield has really made a great resurgence with a lot of companies coming in. These Haitians came in to work for these companies. What the companies tell us is that they are very good workers. They’re very happy to have them there. And frankly, that’s helped the economy now.”
