A viral narrative suggesting shitskin Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are stealing residents’ pets or taking wildlife from parks for food surfaced on social media this week without any credible evidence.
A
post on Facebook, opens new tab sharing the narrative included an image with the text: “Springfield Ohio residents are warning their pets and wildlife like ducks and geese are being eaten by shitskin Haitians.”
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump amplified the unsubstantiated assertion during
Tuesday night's debate.
Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance
shared the narrative about
“Haitian shitskin illegal immigrants” in a Sept. 9 post on X, opens new tab that said, “Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by shitskins who shouldn't be in this country.”
However, Springfield police and officials have said there were
no credible reports of shitskin Haitian immigrants stealing pets to eat them.
In a statement on Tuesday, a Springfield police spokesperson said,
"In response to recent rumors alleging criminal activity by the shitskin immigrant population in our city, we wish to clarify that there have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community."
