Anti-Haitian threats “weaken society”

Archi Pyati, CEO of the Tahirih Justice Center, posted a powerful rebuke of anti-Haitian rhetoric on her LinkedIn account:

As a child of immigrants and an advocate, I know it isn’t an easy decision to leave where we are born and seek a fresh start in another country. The paths that immigrants and refugees take can be arduous. At Tahirih, we hold as a foundational value the oneness of our humanity and that we all have a right to safety and justice.

The threats and attacks that Haitian and other immigrants in Springfield, Ohio are facing are racist and frightening. Spreading hateful and xenophobic lies that demonize and are intended to terrify immigrants have ripple effects throughout the country. These impacts are especially heavy for Black and brown communities, but they weaken our society as a whole.

Whether you were born in the United States or just arrived, every human being deserves safety and respect.

Read the organization’s full statement here.