Haitian Americans speak out over Trump's pet-eating claims
MIAMI - Haitian Americans in South Florida are speaking out about comments made by former President Donald Trump on the debate stage Tuesday.
Trump repeated a baseless claim that was previously amplified by Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance and other high-ranking Republican leaders — that Haitians are eating pets in Springfield, Ohio.
An estimated 10,000 Haitians have migrated to Springfield over the last three to four years. The city has just under 58,000 people.
CBS News Miami went into Miami's Haitian American community to get reactions.
For some Haitian Americans who grew up in South Florida, being accused of eating cats and dogs is nothing new. Some say it's an old and hurtful insult that has now resurfaced.
Florida State Rep. Marie Woodson came to Miami in the early 1980s. "When I came here, I know there was one kid who used to go to Edison Senior High School, who had some issues with other kids calling him Haitian-eating cats," she said.
She saw the tweets by JD Vance before hearing Trump say during Tuesday's debate: "In Springfield, they're eating the dogs - the people that came in, they're eating the cats. They're eating - they're eating the pets of the people that live there."
Woodson said, "There wasn't any reason for this. They do not have any proof that Haitians are eating dogs, eating cats. Come on! Where is this coming from?"
Rulx Jean-Bart, a Haitian American community leader who has called the U.S. home for decades, agrees. "At that level, to have someone who wants to be president talking such nonsense, that was a shame to me. For him, not for me," he said, referring to Trump.
CBS News Miami asked Jean-Bart the obvious: "Do Haitians eat cats, dogs, or any pets?"
"I've never done that," he said. "I don't know anyone in my family who's done that."
Outside Naomi's Garden restaurant in Little Haiti, the conversation was about what's not on the menu.
Charlemagne Sands, who's Haitian American, said Trump is good at what he does.
"Whatever he says, it's meant to polarize and just put you at odds with the other group," he said.
Jorry Present, who is also Haitian American, said, "I think that's an extreme to make that assumption and it's not a wise assumption at all."
Officials in Springfield, Ohio, said there has been no evidence of immigrants or others eating pets.