Chicago's Haitian community denounces Trump's Ohio comments about pets and celebrates its culture

BY KARINA ATKINS, CHICAGO TRIBUNE THE TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY
UPDATED SEPTEMBER 22, 2024 7:43 PM

Several dozen Haitians and allies gathered on Federal Plaza with an umbrella in one hand and Haitian flags in the other Sunday afternoon. The gloomy sky and near-constant downpour did not dampen their admonishment of former President Donald Trump's unfounded accusations that Haitians were stealing and eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, and the onslaught of racist attacks that have followed.

"I watched his debate and, initially when I heard (Trump's comments), I didn't know he was talking about us," said Rebecca Brutus, 13. "I don't know people who (eat pets) who are Haitian or aren't Haitian."

She and her sister Sarah, 15, grew up in the Chatham neighborhood to a Haitian-born mother and a first-generation Haitian American father, Patrick Brutus, who was one of the rally organizers. The girls found out Trump was talking about Haitians on the internet.

"I was appalled," said the other Brutus sister. "I feel like we've been pretty quiet. We haven't been doing anything to have this comment made against us."

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