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
āThe 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.
āThere is no place in a civilized nation for conduct like Vanceās bald-faced admission that he is telling lies to fuel bigotry, and Trumpās planned visit to Springfield to fan the flames. The candidatesā 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.
āWe stand with the Springfield communityāincluding educators, healthcare workers, migrant advocates, and city and state officialsāas they work constructively to address their cityās 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 āgarbage that was simply not trueā and for denouncing the hate groups that are descending on Springfield.
āThe United States was built on immigration. We look after our neighbors and believe in a shared future. We stand with all of Springfieldās residents as they resist the forces of darkness and demagoguery determined to exploit their city for rank political gain.ā
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.