MIAMI – The city of North Miami, with a majority Haitian council, including the mayor, condemned racist comments targeting Haitians .
The council members, personally affected by the derogatory remarks, unanimously passed a resolution to counteract the negative impact of the comments, which have also affected local youth.
The council members expressed that immigrants are integral to the community and should be included, not targeted with hate speech.
The mayor also wrote to the mayor of Springfield, Ohio, and is considering a visit to address the issue further.
“It’s very hurtful. It’s very painful, and we are dealing with the effect of those words, those remarks,” said Mayor Alix Desulme. He says he’s not alone, as a good majority of the city’s population is also Haitian.
“Immigrant folks like myself. We come here, you know, to work hard, and that’s what we are,” he added.
He said the comments made by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Vice President candidate JD Vance , regarding Haitian immigrants, hit home.