Legal Expert Urges Justice Amy Coney Barrett to Speak Out Against Haitian Immigrant Myths
(AP Photo/Morry Gash) Morry Gash/AP
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who has adopted two children from Haiti, is facing calls to address the harmful myths being spread about Haitian immigrants. Legal experts and critics believe Barrett has a unique responsibility to stand up against these false narratives, particularly given her personal connection to the Haitian community.
During her nomination speech, Barrett introduced her seven children, including the two adopted from Haiti. However, some critics at the time noted that the Haitian children were described primarily in terms of their past trauma.
Columnist Elie Mystal, a vocal critic, recently called for Barrett to address the demonization of Haitian immigrants, especially in light of the rhetoric coming from her own party. “It would be nice if Justice Amy Coney Barrett… who has adopted Haitian children—said, like, ANYTHING THE F— AT ALL about the demonization of this community coming from her own party and the President who appointed her,” Mystal lamented.
Former President Donald Trump, who appointed Barrett to the Supreme Court, has contributed to spreading harmful conspiracy theories, including a false claim that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating pets. This baseless rumor was amplified by The Federalist, which reported a 911 call alleging that a Haitian man had eaten a neighborhood pet. Although the police later confirmed the story was false, The Federalist omitted this fact from its report.
These false claims have left Haitian families in Ohio living in fear. According to The Haitian Times, local Haitian residents are terrified. “We’re all victims this morning,” said one Haitian woman, who was too frightened to share her name. She revealed that her cars were vandalized twice in one night, and her home’s windows were broken. Despite attempting to report the incidents to the police, she said her complaints were dismissed, leading her to install security cameras at her home.
As falsehoods continue to spread, the Haitian community in Ohio and beyond is grappling with the harmful consequences of these myths. Legal experts believe Justice Barrett’s voice could play a powerful role in countering these damaging narratives, given her personal ties to Haiti and her influential position on the nation’s highest court. However, as of now, Barrett has remained silent on the issue.
