‘We need peace;’ Local Haitian leaders speak out after rumors attract national attention

SPRINGFIELD — Leaders of the Haitian community held a meeting to address the rumors in Springfield.

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As reported on News Center 7 at 11:00, the city has attracted national attention over the past week.

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News Center 7′s Malik Patterson talked to Lindsay Aime, a leader of the Haitian Community Help and Support Center in Springfield, about how everyone is feeling.

Aime said his community is scared and some people are ready to leave.

“There’s a lot of people, they already booked tickets. Some of them, they don’t know what to do,” he said.

Haitian community leaders planned an in-person group discussion on Saturday to figure out how to move forward.

The event was moved online just an hour beforehand out of fear of a possible attack.

“We are willing to work together so we could pacify the situation because we need peace,” Lindsay Aime said.

Since Thursday morning, Springfield city officials have responded to several bomb threats at government buildings and schools.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is working with the Springfield Police Division to figure out where these threats came from, according to a previous News Center 7 report.

“We feel like we have a target because there’s too many threats,” Lindsay Aime said.

Aime said he wants the rumors to stop.

“I never see Haitians eats those type of animals. Never. We don’t have that in our country,” he said.

The city of Springfield said there are no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured, or abused.

Community members told News Center 7 that they want to stand in solidarity with their Haitian neighbors.

“Let education set the table for the conversation. I think much of the issues that we’re finding is based on misinformation, and of course, even being politically motivated,” Dayton resident Bakari Lumumba said.

Aime said the Haitian population in Springfield are working class people, who just want a fair chance.

“Every single Haitian you see here, most of them, they have a degree. They used to be a lawyer, engineer, whatever. But we needed a little bit respect, please,” he said.

Aime said the leaders will be having a meeting to discuss what their next steps are, but for now, they’re willing to sit down and speak peacefully with other in the community.

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