Customers fear coming to eat at his restaurant in Springfield, Ohio

SPRINGFIELD | A Springfield restaurateur is losing customers who fear coming to eat at her place since Donald Trump wrongly accused the Haitian community in this Ohio city of eating pets.

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“Before, my restaurant was always full when I opened. Now, the Haitians who came are afraid, so it has really slowed down business,” laments Ketlie Moise, who The Journal met in his restaurant, Kékét Bongou.

Springfield has become infamous since Republican presidential and vice presidential candidates Donald Trump and JD Vance spread conspiracy theories that Haitian migrants were eating locals’ cats and dogs. Right-wing extremist groups have flocked to this small town, causing the Haitian community to fear being targeted and attacked.

During our visit, around ten people were present in his small restaurant, located in a commercial area.

“But that’s because there’s a party, otherwise, we hardly have anyone left,” worries the woman who opened her establishment last April.

“We still had support from lots of people who came from far away,” she adds.

Support

At the Rose Goute Creole restaurant, another Haitian restaurant in Springfield, there are many visitors.

“It’s the first time we’ve come and eaten Haitian food! It’s different,” says Dimitrios Mahou, who drove from Cincinnati to Springfield to taste griot with his wife and a friend.

“We wanted to come and show our support. We are still angry to see that a former president dares to make this kind of speech,” says Gaye Kenyon.

Like her, Vicki Mahou is also concerned to see that the far-right movement in the United States is growing and does not hesitate to attack or establish a climate of fear in certain communities, as is the case in Springfield with the arrival of the white supremacist group Proud Boys.

Tension

Ketlie Moise clearly sees the tension in her adopted city as many residents no longer hesitate to show their support for Donald Trump.

“We see more flags and signs to support him than before,” says M^me Moise, even if we can also see many signs in support of the Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris.