CHICAGO—Downcast skies and rain couldn’t stop Haitian Americans and their supporters from gathering downtown at Federal Plaza to denounce hateful comments by GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Vice-presidential pick JD Vance and others, who falsely said Haitians were eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. These falsehoods have led to threats, violence and arson in the small city and different parts of the country.
The Coalition of Haitian American Organizations in the Chicagoland Area put together the Sept. 22 rally that included some of Chicago’s 40,000 residents who are Haitian or of Haitian descent, politicians, religious figures and activists.
The words by Trump and Vance were racist, xenophobic and untrue, said rally speakers and those who attended the gathering on a cloudy afternoon on Sept. 22.
Daniel Jean, president of the Haitian American Professional Network of Chicago, expressed support for “all my Haitian brothers and sisters across the country and all the way to Haiti to denounce the hateful remarks that are being levied against our people.”
He and others talked about the contributions Haitians have made to America and the city, which was founded by a Haitian, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable. He expressed pride in Haitian culture and the way Haitians have worked to improve themselves and the country.
The crowd gathered under red tents and hoisted their umbrellas when rain became heavy. They waved flags and carried banners expressing their pride and determination to speak up and not be intimidated in the face of unwarranted and vile attacks.
Haitian musicians performed traditional music at the rally. Similar rallies have been held in other cities and parts of the country.
Haitians said they have been targeted in the past, in particular in the 1980s and 1990s, at one point falsely accused of carrying AIDS, and refused to be disrespected and victimized again. The latest attacks come as Haitians face difficult times at home, which has led many to flee the country.
