Unexpected discovery: Cat reportedly taken by Haitian immigrants in Ohio is located in owner’s basement
The Lies Spread About Haitian Immigrants in Springfield, Ohio
The presidential campaign of Donald Trump took an entire week to spread lies about Haitian immigrants in the city of Springfield, Ohio. “They eat cats and dogs,” Trump said during the debate with Kamala Harris last week, echoing nonsense that JD Vance had introduced. A new follow-up report on the “evidence” shows once again, things were not as they were said.
False Claims Debunked
The Wall Street Journal attempted to follow up on the stories of the people of Springfield who claimed that their pets had been stolen to be eaten. A reporter visited Anna Kilgore, who had filed a police report in August because her cat Miss Sassy had been “kidnapped by the Haitian neighbors” and couldn’t find her.
The Vance campaign pointed to Kilgore’s story as evidence that Haitian immigrants were eating household pets. But it wasn’t true. The Journal reported that the cat “returned days later, and was safe in her basement.” Kilgore, who supports Trump, now seems to regret it.
Unfounded Accusations
Because Vance said there was plenty of “evidence” that immigrants were eating cats, dogs, and geese from local parks. NBC News spoke with Erika Lee of Springfield after posts on Facebook by right-wing influencers before Vance hit the accelerator. But Lee’s post was based on something she had heard from a friend of a friend, without firsthand knowledge of what had happened.
Local authorities, including Republicans, claim there is no evidence that Haitian immigrants were eating pets from the area. “We have not had credible reports or specific allegations that people in the immigrant community were harming or abusing pets.”
