Incident in Ohio, USA Leads to Happening
Cat Killer is an American Who Has Never Left the US
Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump sparked outrage in American society by saying in a TV debate that immigrants "eat dogs and cats." Where did this claim by Trump originate? Some speculate that it stemmed from an incident that occurred in Ohio in the past.
On the 16th of last month (local time) in Canton, Ohio, a bizarre incident occurred where a woman brutally killed a cat and then ate its corpse, causing unrest in the local community. Local police stated in the incident report, "The suspect mutilated parts of the cat's body and then began eating it." Police body camera images capturing the woman at the time were also released.
However, the incident began to be distorted in an unexpected direction. A user on social media posted the incident images with a caption implying that "Haitian immigrants are eating dogs and cats," spreading misinformation. However, the suspect was confirmed to be a U.S. citizen born and raised in the United States.
The problem is that this fake news caused harm to Haitian immigrants in Ohio. The city of Springfield, Ohio, is known for having a well-established Haitian community.
Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump raised both fists while campaigning in Tucson, Arizona, on the 12th (local time). On that day, former President Trump claimed he won the TV debate held two days earlier. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Some local media claimed that harassment against Haitian immigrants increased after Trump's remarks. The 'Haitian Times,' which reports on Haitian immigrants, stated, "Some Haitian parents are not sending their children to school after the presidential TV debate," and added, "Residents have been subjected to harassment, assault, and threats in front of their homes."
The Springfield authorities, where the Haitian community is located, also pushed back. According to various foreign media reports, Springfield city officials explained to the media that "there have been no credible reports that immigrants are eating pets."
Meanwhile, Springfield is a small city with a population of about 58,000, but it is reported that approximately 15,000 Haitian immigrants have arrived there over the past three years. Haiti, plagued by chronic political turmoil and military dictatorship, has seen a continuous flow of immigrants fleeing the country for over a decade. The humanitarian crisis accelerated especially after the 2010 earthquake, which resulted in over 200,000 casualties.
However, conflicts between Haitian refugees trying to build new lives in the U.S. and local residents are not entirely absent. Last year in Ohio, a Haitian without a driver's license caused a car accident by hitting a school bus, resulting in the death of an 11-year-old child and injuries to 26 others.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
