Why You Should Stop Making Jokes About Springfield, Ohio

No, they’re not eating pets in Springfield, Ohio.

Trump’s false claims of Haitians eating pets have brought racist stereotypes to the forefront of the presidential race. (Courtesy / Krista Mangulsone)

During the Sept. 10 presidential debate, President Trump claimed that Haitian immigrants were eating cats and dogs in Springfield, Ohio. 

In the two weeks since, the rumor has taken on a life of its own, with especially harsh consequences for not only the immigrant community but the whole city. Everything from bomb threats to neo-nazis has plagued Springfield in the weeks since this rumor was spoken on the presidential stage.  

It all began with a social media post from Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance. “People have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country,” Vance said on X, formerly known as Twitter.  

He mentioned illegal Haitian immigrants in the same post. 

The thousands of Haitian immigrants who call Springfield home are legal immigrants. They have been granted temporary protected status by the government because of the political turmoil in their home country. 

“They are there legally, they are there to work,” said Ohio Governor, Mike Dewine. 

Former President Donald Trump repeated the rumor on stage at the presidential debate. What was once a small rumor began to garner national attention and have national implications. However, the consequences for those living in Springfield have been extreme. 

In the week after former President Trump amplified rumors more than 30 bomb threats were called into numerous schools and government buildings, forcing closures. According to DeWine, the vast majority of them are coming from overseas. The city’s schools now have two daily security sweeps to ensure students’ safety. As a result, many parents are keeping their children at home.

“I have posted Ohio Highway Patrol troopers in each school building in Springfield so the schools can remain open, teachers and children can feel safe and students can continue to learn,” said Dewine.

These unfortunate events do not surprise Haitian Howard University student, Britney Antoine.

“I’m not surprised about the rise in xenophobia. Anti-Haitian sentiment has been a theme in the West since the 1900s, and if you want to go even further back since Haiti gained independence from France in 1804,” said Antoine.

While these rumors about Haitians eating pets may be new to many, they are part of the xenophobia that has plagued Haitians since the country’s founding. Thomas Jefferson has referred to them as “cannibals of the terrible republic.” All of this racism that had left the public eye has now found itself resurfacing due to the former president’s remarks. 

To add salt to the wound, this topic is now a trending joke on social media. It has become a trend on TikTok to show cats reacting to the sound of Donald Trump saying “they’re eating the cats.”

“While I understand the intention to undermine rumors through humor, such jokes can reinforce negative stereotypes in the public’s mind,” said Antonie.

Now, instead of truly recognizing the harm that can come from jokes such as these, many are ignoring the harm being done. This is incredibly dangerous as it is how racism and xenophobia become normalized.

“This is a serious issue that deserves sensitivity. It’s all fun and games until the threats turn into actual people dying,” said Antoine.