The Miami Heat released a statement defending the Haitian community amid rumors and threats from the far-right in the United States.
The NBA team posted a message of support on social media on Monday amidst false statements that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, ate domestic and wild animals.
“The Miami HEAT staff, like Miami itself, is a diverse and vibrant mix of cultures, including members of our Haitian community,” the team wrote in the statement. “The false narrative surrounding them is hurtful and offensive and has unfortunately made innocent people the targets of hateful speech and physical threats. Our Haitian employees, fans and friends deserve better.”
The Heat ended their statement by writing: “ansanm nou kanpé fò,” which means “together we are strong” in Haitian Creole.
Miami has a large Haitian community, much of which is based in the Little Haiti neighborhood.
The widely debunked lies surrounding Ohio’s Haitian community were amplified when they have been repeated by Donald Trump during his televised debate with Kamal Harris last week.
“In Springfield, they eat the dogs, they eat the people who came, they eat the cats,” Trump said. “They eat the pets of the people who live there.”
David Muir, one of the moderators of the ABC debate, quickly corrected the former president.
“You mention Springfield, Ohio, and ABC News reached out to the city manager,” Muir said. “He told us there have been no credible reports of specific complaints about pets being injured, mistreated or abused by individuals in the area.” immigrant community.”
The city of Springfield believes the rumors may also stem from a case in Canton, Ohiowhere an American man with no known ties to Haiti was arrested in August for allegedly stomping a cat to death and eating the animal.
Springfield’s hospitals and government buildings have is the subject of bomb threats linked to the rumors of recent days.
