‘We don’t eat pets’ - Haitian immigrants in Springfield fight back

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (AP):

For many Haitian immigrants, Sunday mornings in Springfield, Ohio, are spent joyfully worshipping God as they sing and pray in their native Creole. Last Sunday, they needed that uplifting balm more than ever.

Their community is reeling -- confused, frustrated, hurt -- from false accusations that they are eating their neighbour's cats and dogs. The now-viral and highly politicised rumours are being fuelled by former President Donald Trump, his running mate JD Vance and others, and violent threats against the community are upending daily life in their city.

"Jesus is with us in truth, and the truth is that Haitians are not eating pets and geese in Springfield," said the Reverend Carl Ruby, preaching at Central Christian Church. He invited community members to join his congregation in prayer and peaceful protest of the false rumours levelled against their Haitian neighbours.

They also demanded an apology.

"It is truth that a retraction of these rumours will help to restore peace in Springfield," Ruby said. "We respectfully call on all politicians and media figures who are promoting this rumour to help make Springfield great and safe again by speaking the truth about our community."

Viles Dorsainvil, the leader of Haitian Community Help and Support Center in Springfield, accepted Ruby's invitation to worship together at Central Christian, and was grateful to be relying on his faith.

"It's important to be here because we're Christian -- despite everything, we worship in good times and bad times," he said. "I'm relieved that I'm in the presence of God. It's therapeutic."

And he had a message for Trump and Vance: "If they have the heart of God, they will think differently and speak differently."

The rumours, spread on social media and by Trump during Tuesday's televised presidential debate against Vice-President Kamala Harris, have exacerbated fears about division and anti-immigrant sentiment ahead of the election in the mostly white, blue-collar city of about 59,000, where more than 15,000 Haitians now live and work.

Thousands of temporary Haitian migrants have legally landed in Springfield in recent years under the US's Temporary Protected Status programme, as long-standing unrest in their home country has given way to violent gangs ruling the streets.