Black Star News Editorial
Photos: YouTube Screenshots
Donald Trump is once again using racism in his bid for a second White House term—with the current lie, that Haitian immigrants, in Springfield, Ohio, are eating the pets of their neighbors.
This insidious lie is meant to inflame the Republican MAGA base about the topic Trump likes to primarily fearmonger on: non-white immigration. Trump has used the fear of immigration from the very beginning of his political ascension.
Trump used Birtherism, against President Barack Obama, and racism and bigotry against Mexicans and Muslims during his successful campaign for the presidency in 2016. Racist opposition to non-white immigration has a long history in America. Unfortunately, in recent decades, the Republican Party has used the issue of immigration to gain political support from that segment of the country most opposed to non-white immigration.
Understanding that Republicans voters are more hardwired to react to racist invectives and propaganda, Trump has, time and again, reverted to this tried-and-true trump card. Trump’s lies against Haitian immigrants, in Springfield, Ohio, is only the latest episode in his race-baiting political strategy.
In the aftermath of this vicious falsehood, the news now from Ohio is about the fear Haitians are feeling—and about bomb threats.
But Trump, and J.D. Vance, continue to spread lies and disinformation in their cynical attempt to scare Republican voters on the immigration issue. The fact that some white Americans actually believe this preposterous fiction is illustrative of the racism still deeply embedded in the country.
There are those, including in white “progressive” circles, who argue it is unfair to smear MAGA voters as racists. Some advance the argument that MAGA’s support of Trump speaks to the betrayal by the Democratic Party, who they say have abandoned the white working-class, that then ran into the loving arms of Trump.
Have these people forgotten institutional racism was created to protect the economic exploitation of the elites—and divide regular whites from class solidarity with Blacks? Haven’t many of America’s worst race riots happened within the context of white economic anxiety?
Economic concerns among MAGA voters doesn’t change the reality that racism is the main tool used by Trump, and Republicans, to drive those fears. We see this in the demonization being spewed now against Haitians in Ohio.
In recent years, approximately 15,000 Haitians moved to Springfield to pursue the prospect of good jobs. But reportedly, the city is now facing problems related to the influx of these immigrants including claims of: raising housing costs, traffic problems, and strains on city services.
And now that Trump has disseminated this racist falsehood about eating pets it has made it easy for Haitians to be attacked. The MAGA faithful true to form are agreeing with Trump’s racist immigration message. This is why he is also threatening mass deportation of Haitians if elected.
Trump’s immigration lie about Haitians is but one more reason why he must be defeated in November.
