LOS ANGELES (CNS) – In response to Former President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about Haitian immigrants, a coalition of clergy Tuesday denounced the anti-immigrant rhetoric and urged Southland residents to stand in solidarity with migrants.
Outside of L.A. City Hall, members of the Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice led by Pastor Stephen Cue Jn-Marie condemned remarks made by Trump and his 2024 running mate JD Vance about Haitian immigrants in the city of Springfield, Ohio.
Trump made the claim that migrants were eating people’s pets during the ABC presidential debate on Sept. 11 with Kamala Harris. The assertion led to the city facing bomb and shooting threats, forcing closures of schools and other events.
During a rally in Indiana, Pennsylvania, on Monday, Trump doubled down on his remarks.
“President Trump is rightfully highlighting the failed immigration system that Kamala Harris has overseen, bringing thousands of illegal immigrants pouring into communities like Springfield and many others across the county,” a Trump spokesperson told Newsweek Tuesday morning. “President Trump will secure our border and put a stop to this chaos.”
Pastor Cue, founder of The Row LA, also known as “The Church Without Walls,” said while the experiences of Haitians in the Southland may differ, they are being vilified in other parts of the country.
“We wanted to push back against those lies that Haitian immigrants were eating cats and dogs,” Cue said. “We know they did that to actually propel and push their rhetoric of anti-immigration. We know that when they did that, it brought violence upon the Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio.”
Cue emphasized that Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine sent law enforcement and millions in dollars in health care support to the city of Springfield and the Haitian population.
“Whenever you attack the Haitian community, Black folk just feel it period,” Cue said. “We know this policy is rooted in anti-Blackness.”
The pastor added that anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies are “deeply rooted” in white supremacy, and impacts not just the Haitian community but all communities of color.
Rev. Walter Contreras of the Presbyterian Church, who works in the San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles area, added that it is morally wrong to use lives — people — to promote division and foster hate.
“We are a country made of immigrants, and for the ex-president and his vice president — his running mate — (to be) using stories like this to take advantage of elderly people and producing lies,” Cue said. “There’s a lot of fear among the immigrant population.”
Contreras wanted to remind voters to make the right decision during the Nov. 5 presidential election.
“As you vote, you have to define reality,” Contreras said. “You will never make the right decision, the right choice, unless you’re willing to define what is happening as wrong, and realizing what is going on is causing more harm than anything else.”
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