Yo, Yost, no one is eating dogs and cats in Springfield!

No one is eating dead geese or ducks either. Please stop the mad hysteria! AG Yost should grow a backbone instead and defend Springfield, Ohio—not spread fake news started by Donald Trump. Just for the record, the Haitian community in Springfield is 12,000 to 15,000, according to Mayor Rob Rue, not 20,000.

That's nearly 7,000 less! Most Haitians in Springfield are legal residents, green card holders, or newly naturalized U.S. citizens. They arrived in Springfield five years ago.

Haitians are attracted to Ohio because of the abundance of jobs, excellent universities, and affordable living. Stereotyping Haitian refugees is hurtful, embarrassing, and not the way to welcome newcomers to our state. The GOP’s smack talk about Haitians, led by you, Sen. Vance, and your party leader, is hate speech and depicts Haitians as savages and troublemakers.

Dave Yost's public statements about Springfield add insult, subtract pleasure, multiply ignorance, and divide attention. Trump is well-known for making outrageous statements on social media to attract media attention.

Facts: The Orange Clown will not be able to deport Haitians in Springfield. He is not the President, and most Haitians in Ohio are legal.

MSNBC reported that Sen. Vance admitted over the weekend that he is willing to “create stories” about issues to drive media attention. He made this stunning remark while defending himself for spreading a baseless lie that Haitian immigrants are eating the pets of Springfield, Ohio. Did AG Yost condemn Vance for his outrageous remarks?

By the way, I should point out that I took the "Yo, Yost" phrase from a TV campaign commercial on Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost's Facebook page.

I don't know about you, but I think the GOP's hatred of Haitians runs deep and wide. Just remember, the former Liar-in-Chief has no shame or credibility. AG Yost should take heed from our courageous governor and not follow the lead of the motormouth Trump.

I am also surprised that no GOP officials in Ohio or elsewhere denounced the many bomb threats made in Springfield, which led to several schools being evacuated. This prompted Governor DeWine to dispatch several dozen State Highway Patrol officers in response. There will be two highway patrol officers assigned to each of the Springfield City District's 18 schools, as reported by the *LA Times*.

As of this writing, the city of Springfield has received 33 separate threats, prompting the closure of several elementary and middle schools as well as government buildings. Posting absurd anti-Haitian messages on social media is not cool—it is despicable and makes me sick to my stomach. Haitians are hardworking people busy with the demands of day-to-day life: caring for their children, learning English, and looking for work.

Instead of threatening Haitians, AG Yost should be meeting with them and listening to their concerns. Hate speech about Haitians by either Trump or Ohio GOP leaders is dangerous and toxic. As an Arab/Muslim American, this evokes bad memories.

If GOP leaders in Ohio want the Haitian community or other minority groups to assimilate, they better treat them with dignity and respect first. The Haitian community makes critical contributions to Ohio, generating much-needed tax dollars each year. Attacking the Haitian community is attracting a lot of negative publicity to Springfield and our home state of Ohio.

Contrary to Yost and Vance's false claims, Haitians in Springfield are not causing chaos or terrorizing the city's residents. Targeting them by GOP officials and the MAGA cult is creating havoc and generating dozens of bomb threats.

What GOP officials have to say about Haitians was best described by our Governor Mike DeWine: "rubbish." That is one reason why I have never voted for a Republican.

Hateful and racist ramblings will not get Donald J. Trump or any other Ohio GOP candidates elected. As Ohio's "Top Cop," AG Yost allowed his troops last May 25 to arrest 41 peaceful protesters at OSU for asking the University to cut ties with Israel and pressure them to end the genocide against the Palestinian people.

Yost promised to protect religious freedom for Ohioans, but last May 25, he did quite the opposite when his troops violated the religious freedom of students and faculty at OSU, including a distinguished local Muslim leader, Dr. Somaya Hamadmad.

They ripped off her hijab and denied her and others the right to pray and eat halal food. Four months later, no apology has been issued to those local Muslims, and the charges against them have not been dropped.

On the contrary, Yost wanted to take Ohio 170 years back when he threatened to prosecute the protesters at OSU under the "anti-disguise" law, which makes it a fourth-degree felony punishable by six to 18 months in prison, up to $5,000 in fines, and up to five years of community service if you protest while wearing a face mask or veil (*Columbus Dispatch*, May 2024).

Public officials should be aware that such prejudice against Haitians or any other racial or religious group will ultimately lead to violence and discrimination. When dogs and cats start fleeing Springfield, you can blame Trump, Vance, and Yost. Frankly, I can't celebrate freedom when my fellow Haitian neighbors are subjected to attacks and ridicule and have a large target on their backs.

Shamefully, Ohio is home to irresponsible elected officials who are attempting to cling to power. They will say and do anything to stay on top, no matter who they hurt. But they do not represent the views of God-fearing Ohioans.

The former president, Sen. Vance, and AG Yost owe Haitians a sincere and genuine apology and a retraction of all the trash talk they have said about them.

Mahmoud El-Yousseph is a Palestinian freelancer for Islamicity.org and ColumbusFreePress.com. He can be reached at [email protected].