Haiti Policy House Condemns Racist and Xenophobic Remarks by Senator J.D. Vance, Senator Ted Cruz, and X CEO Elon Musk
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
09/09/2024 - Haiti Policy House strongly condemns the racist and xenophobic rhetoric recently made by Republican Senator and V.P. nominee JD Vance, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, and X CEO Elon Musk targeting the Haitian community in Ohio. Racist claims such as “Haitians are stealing and eating household cats” in Ohio, represent a dangerous escalation of hate-filled disinformation that threatens the lives of all Haitians. This kind of rhetoric emboldens far-right extremism and reinforces anti-Black sentiments.
Senator Ted Cruz further exacerbated this harmful rhetoric by urging American voters to vote for Republican Candidate Donald Trump, so that “Haitian immigrants won’t eat their household cats.” This spread of disinformation is part of a broader strategy to scapegoat marginalized communities to influence elections.
Haiti Policy House is a Washington, D.C., nonpartisan research institute dedicated to creating and informing strategic foreign policies for a safe and free Haiti. As an organization staffed by Haitians and Haitian-Americans, Haiti Policy House unequivocally condemns Sen. Vance and Sen. Cruz’s conspiracy as racist, xenophobic, disingenuous, baseless, and dangerous. There is no evidence of this outlandish claim occurring, nor is it acceptable for such claims to be amplified by major political candidates.
We call on political leaders, public figures, media outlets, and platforms to take immediate action and stand against these dangerous attacks. Protecting the lives of hardworking individuals and families must be a priority.
Like all other immigrants, Haitians have made significant contributions to the economy and social fabric of the United States. The Haitian community’s involvement in the political process, including within the Republican Party, is significant and could indeed influence the outcome of this election in key states like Florida where over 544,000 Haitians reside. We will not allow these contributions to be overshadowed by malicious accusations.
We urge Senators Vance and Cruz to issue an apology to the Haitian community for their reckless and inflammatory statements. Such rhetoric has no place in our political discourse, and we urge all leaders to engage in a more respectful and fact-based conversation about immigration and cultural diversity.
