SPRINGFIELD, Ohio ā For many Haitian immigrants, Sunday mornings in Springfield, Ohio, are spent joyfully worshipping God as they sing and pray in their native Creole. This Sunday, they needed that uplifting balm more than ever.
Their community is reeling ā confused, frustrated, hurt ā from false accusations that they are eating their neighborās cats and dogs. The now viral and highly politicized rumors are being fueled by former President Donald Trump, his running mate JD Vance and others, and violent threats against the community are upending daily life in their city.
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āJesus is with us in truth, and the truth is that Haitians are not eating pets and geese in Springfield,ā said the Rev. Carl Ruby, preaching at Central Christian Church. He invited community members to join his congregation in prayer and peaceful protest of the false rumors leveled against their Haitian neighbors.
They also demanded an apology.
āIt is truth that a retraction of these rumors will help to restore peace in Springfield," Ruby said. āWe respectfully call on all politicians and media figures who are promoting this rumor to help make Springfield great and safe again by speaking the truth about our community.ā
Viles Dorsainvil, the leader of Haitian Community Help and Support Center in Springfield, accepted Ruby's invitation to worship together at Central Christian, and was grateful to be relying on his faith.
āItās important to be here because weāre Christian ā despite everything, we worship in good times and bad times,ā he said. āIām relieved that Iām in the presence of God. Itās therapeutic.ā
And he had a message for Trump and Vance: āIf they have the heart of God, they will think differently and speak differently.ā
The rumors, spread on social media and by Trump during Tuesdayās televised presidential debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, have exacerbated fears about division and anti-immigrant sentiment ahead of the election in the mostly white, blue-collar city of about 59,000 where more than 15,000 Haitians now live and work.
Thousands of temporary Haitian migrants have legally landed in Springfield in recent years under the U.S.'s Temporary Protected Status program, as longstanding unrest in their home country has given way to violent gangs ruling the streets.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, has said the federal government needs to do more to help cities like Springfield serve the influx of migrants. On ABCās āThis Week," DeWine called the Haitians good, hardworking people who are in the U.S. legally, and said the false rumors are a piece of internet garbage.
āThereās no evidence of this at all,ā he said during the program.
Despite the governor and local officials debunking the rumors, Vance reiterated the conspiracy theory on Sunday's āFace the Nationā on CBS while blasting Harris on her U.S.-Mexico border policy.
At Central Christian Church, Ruby encouraged his congregation to help hand out thousands of cards around Springfield that had been printed in Creole and English with a message of support for Haitians. It reads" āIām glad you are here. Christ loves you and so do I."
As the service ended, Ruby praised parishioners for a beautiful moment amid what he called a storm of chaos. Looking at the Haitian members in the first pew and at the rest of his congregation, he asked them to come together in prayer: āPray and think what it is to be a Haitian parent sending their child this week to school."
One of those parents is Mia Perez, 35 an immigration lawyer whose 9-year-old daughter had to evacuate her school twice because of bomb threats to a nearby DMV this week.
āKids in school are being asked by other kids: āHow does the dog taste? How does the cat taste?ā Perez said, describing her daughterās distress.
"Sheās asking, 'Are we the kind of Haitians who eat this kind of stuff? Is it true? Whatās happening?'ā
āThis is a conversation that I was not ready to have with my daughter," Perez said. "I felt disrespected of our culture.ā
On Sunday, Perez attended a service at Saint Raphaelās Catholic church, while a Springfield police officer stood guard outside. Attendance by Haitians was lower than usual, and Perez ā after talking with others who did attend ā said many from their community stayed away out of fears for their safety,
āThis is emotional," she said. "They made a statement of not being here. Catholic Haitian people have such strong faith ā not even hurricanes can keep them away, but look at this here today.ā
Another service was held at The First Haitian Church, located next to the Haitian Community Center.
āThey feel the threat. They feel not welcome,ā Bernardette Dor, 51, one of the pastors, said after the service. āEven in the school system sometimes, they feel different, not because of their skin color but because theyāre Haitian. But the reality is that weāre beautiful and weāre blessed.ā
Though she worries about repercussions of the false statements, she said gathering to worship with her community and feeling support from others in Springfield gives her hope.
āWe are united. It is time for good to stand for good,ā she said. āThis time the city of Springfield, Haitian people, asked the Lord to stay together to fight for good ... America is a great loving country, and American people care for people ā it doesnāt matter if they are Haitian. Weāre against lies.ā
After the service, some parishioners gathered at Rose Goute Creole restaurant for a traditional Haitian meal of rice and beans, fried plantains and pork. One of them, Jacob Payen, said the restaurant has been transformed in recent days.
āWeāve been outnumbered ā we have more non-Haitian guests here at the restaurant who are curious to know the culture and Haitian cuisine,ā he said. āWe feel that theyāre sending a strong message: if theyāre here eating with us because they trust us.ā
Among those attending the earlier service at Central Christian was Rose-Thamar Joseph, 40, who works at the Haitian Community Center.
āI was praying for peace and protection ā for the Haitian community and all of Springfield," she said. āI just want Springfield to go back to what it was a couple of months ago."
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AP visual journalist Jessie Wardarski contributed.
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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APās collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.