At St. Paul's Episcopal Church, the Rev. Jean Beniste, a Haitian immigrant and Episcopal priest turned internet curses into blessings during an annual blessing of the animals, held in honor of St. Francis.
Vance’s remarks seemed aimed at quelling some of the controversy that sprang up after he and Donald Trump falsely accused Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, of eating townspeople’s pets.
This issue of A Public Witness treks to Ohio to consider how Christians have been supporting Haitian immigrants before and since the vile politics of the past week.
The viral racist rumors are being fueled primarily by former President Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance, and violent threats against the community are upending daily life in Springfield.