The Miami Heat condemn threats and ‘hateful language’ directed at Haitian immigrants.
On Monday, the Miami Heat condemned the “hateful speech” directed at Haitian immigrants, who have been falsely accused of stealing and eating pets in Ohio. These baseless claims, promoted by former President Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance, have sparked bomb threats and other dangerous actions targeting residents in Springfield, Ohio.
The team stated that “the false narrative surrounding them is hurtful and offensive, and has unfortunately made innocent people the targets of hateful speech and physical threats.” Miami-Dade County, home to one of the highest concentrations of Haitians in the U.S., has around 3.7% of its 2.7 million residents identifying as Haitian, with Haitians making up about 2.4% of Florida’s population.
“Our Haitian employees, fans, and friends deserve better,” the Heat added. Several schools and municipal buildings in Springfield were closed last week after receiving threats due to the spread of false claims that Haitian immigrants were stealing and eating pets. These falsehoods have gained traction, fueled by Trump and Vance, with Vance refusing to apologize during TV appearances, even admitting to using the narrative to shift focus to immigration.
Vanessa Cardenas, executive director of America’s Voice, an immigration advocacy group, condemned the lies, stating that such rhetoric invites political violence. Ohio immigration advocate Sophia Pierrelus shared that her adult son in Columbus has faced harassment, with people asking him if he eats cats and dogs, influenced by Trump’s message.
