ATLANTA — Former President Donald Trump doubled down on false claims he made during Tuesday's presidential debate. His campaign said Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio had reportedly hunted geese and other livestock and kidnapped residents' pets and ate them. A city spokesperson for Springfield called the claims rumors, and city police said there was no credible evidence that ever happened.
"In Springfield, they're eating the dogs, the people that came in, they're eating the cats, they're eating, they're eating the pets of the people that live there," Trump said during the debate. "And this is what's happening in our country."
11Alive spoke with a Haitian restaurant owner in the Grant Park neighborhood of Atlanta. She did not want to be identified, but she wanted to tell her story about the journey that brought her to Atlanta after an earthquake ravaged her home country of Haiti. Her love for cooking keeps her in the kitchen for more than 12 hours per day.
"Where does he get this information?" she asked. "I've never heard of something like that. This is going to hurt Haitian people, that's for sure."
According to the Atlanta Regional Commission, more than 25,000 Haitians have made metro Atlanta home. Gregory Maurice is one of them. He moved to the U.S. when he was 13. He's found success in the film industry and now runs Zaka, a company that helps immigrants overcome obstacles and thrive in the business world.
“I was shocked and disappointed to hear what the former president said," Maurice said. "Even other public figures are parroting these old dog whistles and stereotypes. I’m extremely sad, especially for our young Haitian-American immigrants who deal with mockery and threats in their community.”
Maurice charged public officials and elected leaders to watch their words because they could be divisive and fail to see the positives immigrants have brought with them to the United States.
"We’re not eating your pets. We’re contributing to your community," Maurice said. "We’re Grammy winners, U.S. Open champions, Academy Award winners, we fight for this country. We’re doctors and nurses who care for our patients without prejudice. As a community, we’re always going to be resilient. We’re used to those false claims throughout history. If you’re a public figure and leader, you should be in the business of uplifting the less fortunate."
The Trump campaign sent a statement in response, saying the "influx of immigrants in Springfield, Ohio has strained the housing, healthcare, and education systems in the area."
"We hope the media will continue to cover the stories of the very real suffering and tragedies experienced by the people of Springfield, Ohio - many which haven't been given nearly the level of attention they deserve until now because they don't fit the liberal mainstream media narrative," a statement billed from Karoline Leavitt, the Trump campaign national press secretary said. "While the media may find these stories and experiences unimportant and inconvenient, President Trump will continue talking about how we are going to keep communities like Springfield, Ohio safe from migrant crime and make America safe again."