Photo credit: NY Post
Haitian Americans, along with elected officials and high-ranking Democrats, rallied near Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum to demand a formal apology after Republican candidate Donald Trump’s recently debunked accusations against Haitian immigrants.
Haitian Times reports that they called for strong protection for Haitian immigrants across the United States. The rally also highlighted concerns over the “dangerous shift” of Long Island Republicans towards Trump’s extremist agenda. They urged local, state, and federal leaders to address hate speech and discrimination.
Nassau County Legislator Carrie Solages, a Democrat from Valley Stream Veterans Memorial Coliseum, said, “We demand a formal apology from the Trump campaign as well as a restatement of the true facts. We will not tolerate dehumanizing lies about our community.”
The protesters criticized Trump’s alleged extremism and his baseless and debunked accusations against Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. The rally also protested Trump’s presidential campaign event at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
By 1 p.m., hundreds of Haitians dressed in red and blue had joined the gathering. They were chanting and waving their flags in unison.
Waving both Haitian and American flags, the protesters chanted, “We are not going back.”
The crowd condemned the recent remarks made by Trump and his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance, who falsely claimed Haitians in Springfield were eating residents’ cats and dogs.
Local officials in Ohio later confirmed that there were no reports supporting Trump’s allegations. A woman who initially circulated the rumor on Facebook later apologized.
