Guest Opinion

AFT President Randi Weingarten and Ohio Federation of Teachers President Melissa Cropper respond to the continued lies and political vitriol directed at the Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio

“The Springfield community needs help, not hate. Instead of working with city leaders to address issues like affordable housing, healthcare access, education and transportation, divisive politicians like JD Vance, Donald Trump and Senate candidate Bernie Moreno have been spreading hatred in a cynical attempt to score political points.

“There is no place in a civilized nation for conduct like Vance’s bald-faced admission that he is telling lies to fuel bigotry, and Trump’s planned visit to Springfield to fan the flames. The candidates’ deeply racist remarks are unacceptable on their face, but the consequences are real: They have incited bomb threats and led to an influx of white supremacist groups.

“We stand with the Springfield community—including educators, healthcare workers, migrant advocates, and city and state officials—as they work constructively to address their city’s growing pains while remaining a welcoming home for Haitian migrants, many of whom have fled violence. We commend Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine for correctly labeling these stories as ‘garbage that was simply not true’ and for denouncing the hate groups that are descending on Springfield.

“The United States was built on immigration. We look after our neighbors and believe in a shared future. We stand with all of Springfield’s residents as they resist the forces of darkness and demagoguery determined to exploit their city for rank political gain.”

The American Federation of Teachers is a union of 1.8 million professionals that champions fairness; democracy; economic opportunity; and high-quality public education, healthcare and public services for our students, their families and our communities. We are committed to advancing these principles through community engagement, organizing, collective bargaining and political activism, and especially through the work our members do.