JANM Decries False Statements about Haitian Immigrants in Ohio

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Japanese American National Museum (JANM) decries the false statements spread on social media and recently amplified by national influencers and politicians that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were taking over the city and abducting and eating pets. JANM expresses support for the Haitian community and the many residents of Springfield who have been impacted by threats of violence resulting from this dangerous rhetoric. 

“These baseless claims are fueled by the same xenophobia and dangerously discriminatory rhetoric that led to the Chinese Exclusion Act, the Alien Land Laws, and forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans and their families during World War II. They are meant to divide, dehumanize, and degrade. We cannot let racism, xenophobia, and anti-immigrant narratives cloud our worldviews and disrupt our communities. The lessons from the incarceration experience remain relevant and urgent. They should not be ignored,” said Ann Burroughs, JANM President and CEO.

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