Mia Perez’s Friday began like any other, preparing her 9-year-old daughter for school in Springfield, Ohio, attempting to maintain normalcy despite the unsettling atmosphere in town. National political rumors had seeped into their community, whispers suggesting that local immigrants were stealing and consuming pets. Religious leaders organized a meeting to combat these claims, but Perez’s anxiety was palpable.
Her phone rang during the meeting, delivering news of bomb threats near her daughter’s elementary school, the second such incident in as many days. Panic set in. “I spilled coffee all over myself when I got the call,” Perez recounted. Rushing to the school, she retrieved her daughter, who was now full of questions, anxieties fueled by news of school shootings. But her daughter’s next question was even more disturbing: “Have we ever eaten a cat?”
Perez, whose husband is Haitian and who herself is Cuban with a long history in Haiti, works as an immigration lawyer and interpreter, assisting Springfield’s growing immigrant community, predominantly Haitian. She reassured her daughter emphatically, “No, we do not eat cats.” She tried to lighten the moment with humor, but internally, Perez was deeply shaken, having cried daily since the rumors began circulating.
This turmoil in Springfield was the direct fallout from remarks made by Donald Trump at a presidential debate, echoing similar sentiments from J.D. Vance, Ohio’s senator. Trump declared, “They’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there, and this is what’s happening in our country, and it’s a shame.”
The repercussions were immediate and harsh. White supremacist groups descended upon Springfield, distributing racist flyers and exploiting existing grievances by blaming the immigrant population. Vandalism increased, bomb threats surpassed thirty, and outsiders arrived to reinforce a message of exclusion to the new residents.
Shortly after arriving in Springfield to investigate, I encountered a group of around 30 Proud Boys, some accompanied by their children, clad in custom biker jackets bearing the group’s insignia. One, concealing his face, insisted their opposition to Haitians wasn’t racist but about prioritizing Americans. Another, when asked about the pet-eating rumors, conceded, “It’s possible they aren’t,” dismissing it as “just a meme” for amusement.
While the Proud Boys might have found it amusing, my weekend in Springfield revealed the stark reality of campaign rhetoric spiraling into alarming extremes. The community, already grappling with internal divisions, was now facing national scrutiny and uncertainty, all sparked by the inflammatory and baseless claim of immigrants eating pets.
Alt text: Trump supporter displaying a Trump 2024 sign from a car window, reflecting the political climate fueling pet-eating rumors.
Searching for Truth Amidst the “Pets Being Eaten” Rumors
Despite the widespread rumor, I found no evidence of pet consumption in Springfield. However, the belief in its possibility was surprisingly prevalent. Ron, a long-term Springfield resident living near the railroad tracks, surrounded by Trump flags and Haitian neighbors, voiced his suspicion. “They stare at you,” he said, claiming no hatred but expressing discomfort with their presence. He considered the pet rumors plausible, fueled by a sense of unease with the changing demographics.
Ron, a former Walmart employee now on disability, voiced resentment over perceived preferential treatment for immigrants, claiming they receive more government assistance than he does. He felt overlooked and replaced, suggesting a conspiracy to displace him and his neighbors with Haitian immigrants. His rent increase further fueled his anxieties.
Ron’s sentiments reflect a broader tension in Springfield, rooted in economic anxieties and demographic shifts. Like many mid-sized Ohio cities, Springfield faced population decline and job losses due to manufacturing downturns. A plan to revitalize the city by attracting manufacturers led to a worker shortage, making Springfield appealing to immigrants, particularly Haitians with Temporary Protected Status. This influx, estimated at 15,000, brought economic benefits but also strained local resources and sparked community tensions.
Alt text: Ron, a Springfield resident, sits on his porch with a Trump flag, embodying the local anxieties related to immigration and the pet-eating rumor.
The School Bus Tragedy and Rising Anti-Immigrant Sentiment
Many residents pinpoint the escalation of animosity to a tragic accident in August 2023, where a Haitian driver caused a school bus crash that killed 11-year-old Aiden Clark and injured many others. Despite the driver, Hermanio Joseph, being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and the Clark family urging against anti-immigrant sentiment, the incident became a flashpoint for pre-existing tensions.
Subsequent City Commission meetings became platforms for residents to voice grievances against their Haitian neighbors, fueled by misinformation and prejudice. Accusations ranged from “illegal” status to rumors of stealing geese from parks. Haitians were stereotyped as uneducated, blamed for littering, reckless driving, and rising living costs. Perez described these meetings as a “brutal awakening,” feeling “attacked, violated, and dehumanized” by the scapegoating.
Community Lifelines and Growing Fears
The St. Vincent de Paul Community Center emerged as a vital resource for new immigrants, offering support and a sense of community. However, even this sanctuary felt the shift in atmosphere. Security was tightened, reflecting the growing unease. The executive director, now wary after being doxed online, declined to speak on record, highlighting the palpable fear.
Despite the tensions, no one denied the real challenges Springfield faced. Perez acknowledged issues like unlicensed driving and advocated for Creole instructional materials and stricter driving regulations. Rising housing costs were another concern, often unfairly attributed solely to immigrants. Rachel, a local property manager, pointed to broader economic factors like increased property taxes and stagnant wages as primary drivers of rising rents, cautioning against blaming immigrants.
Haitian Immigrants’ Perspective: Resilience and Hard Work
Haitian residents expressed a mixture of resilience and frustration. Harold Herad, who moved to Springfield in 2022, saw potential in the town and felt welcomed initially. He witnessed the positive impact of Haitian immigration, revitalizing abandoned properties and businesses. However, the “Pets Being Eaten” rumor deeply disturbed him. Despite the prejudice, he remained optimistic about eventual acceptance through understanding and time.
James Fleuri Jean emphasized the hard work ethic of Haitian immigrants, dispelling the myth of government handouts. He resented the bad-driver stereotype, given his profession as a truck driver with a clean record. He noted increased wariness among Haitian residents but a determination to persevere and let their actions speak louder than the rumors.
Cuisine as a Bridge and the Hope for Reconciliation
Keket, owner of KEKET Bongou Caribbean Restaurant, expressed profound hurt at the rumors, especially given her efforts to share Haitian culture through cuisine. The restaurant, a community hub, felt the weight of growing tensions. Despite her unease, Keket clung to hope for eventual reconciliation and understanding.
Alt text: A street scene in Springfield, Ohio, representing the community grappling with rumors of pets being eaten and rising tensions.
Encounters in Springfield: Beyond the Rumor
My interactions in Springfield revealed a more nuanced picture than the inflammatory rumors suggested. Long-term residents, like Mark Pearson, shared unsettling anecdotes, such as finding a skinned cat, but dismissed the idea of immigrant involvement, suspecting animals or pranks. He acknowledged language barriers but no personal issues with Haitian coworkers.
At a local Walmart, a woman humorously reassured me her cats were safe, while a man nearby condemned the rumors as racist fabrications. High school students in Snyder Park attributed the rumors to “old people being racist,” observing plenty of geese, debunking another local rumor about geese fleeing due to fear.
Alt text: Teenagers in Springfield, Ohio, discuss the changing community dynamics and dismiss the pet-eating rumors as racist.
Alt text: Geese in Snyder Park, Springfield, Ohio, visually refuting rumors that geese have disappeared due to fear related to pet-eating claims.
These students acknowledged challenges like language barriers in schools but also recognized the positive contributions of immigrants to the local economy. They expressed hope for integration and understanding over time, emphasizing a need for support, not criticism.
New Diaspora Live: Broadcasting Unity in Springfield
A newly launched Haitian radio station, New Diaspora Live, aimed to bridge divides and combat misinformation. Miguelito Jerome, the station’s founder, envisioned it as a platform for all Springfield residents, promoting unity through multilingual programming in English, Creole, and Spanish. He saw the timing of the launch as opportune, aiming to create a space for dialogue and understanding amidst fear and confusion. “We have to save Springfield,” Jerome declared, emphasizing the immigrant community’s role in the city’s revitalization.
Solidarity and Support: Dining Against Prejudice
Rose Goute Creole Restaurant experienced an unexpected surge in customers, many non-Haitian, coming to show solidarity and support against the prejudice fueled by the “pets being eaten” rumors. Customers from across the country made detours to Springfield to dine at the restaurant, expressing disgust at the baseless accusations. The restaurant manager, overwhelmed but grateful, felt a sense of community support in the face of adversity.
In conclusion, the rumor of immigrants eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, serves as a stark example of how easily political rhetoric and misinformation can ignite prejudice and disrupt communities. While baseless, the rumor exposed existing societal tensions and anxieties around immigration and demographic change. However, amidst the negativity, stories of resilience, community support, and efforts to bridge divides offer a glimmer of hope for understanding and reconciliation in Springfield.
