Haitian Families in Springfield, Illinois, Express Safety Concerns Following Trump’s Remarks

The morning after former President Donald Trump repeated controversial claims about Haitians, some Haitian families in Springfield, Ohio, are opting to keep their children home from school due to safety concerns. Those who did allow their children to attend did so with significant apprehension, according to WDTN.

One Haitian resident, who chose to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, shared their concerns: “She [my niece] was scared, but I told her to go, that God would protect.” This individual, a resident of Springfield for six years, described feeling attacked from multiple angles: “We’re all victims this morning… They’re attacking us in every way.”

The anxiety has been compounded by personal incidents of vandalism. The resident reported that their vehicles had been targeted twice, with broken windows and acid damage, despite efforts to report these crimes to local law enforcement. The response has been unsatisfactory, prompting the addition of security cameras.

Springfield activist Sophia Pierrelus noted that many families are beginning to leave Springfield and that some children are staying home from school due to fear of violence. “People are very afraid for their lives,” Pierrelus stated. The fear is exacerbated by the widespread dissemination of anti-Haitian sentiment through social media and international news.

Local authorities have been contacted regarding these reports, but as of Wednesday afternoon, no response had been received from the relevant officials. The concerns shared by the community, which were reported confidentially to The Haitian Times, reflect a broader pattern of intimidation and harassment against Haitians.