Miami Heat Condemn ‘Hurtful and Offensive’ Narratives About Haitian Immigrants: ‘Made Innocent People Targets’

The Miami Heat on Monday released a statement condemning the characterization of Haitian immigrants stemming from false reports in the media.

The city of Springfield, Ohio has dominated national headlines in recent days thanks to Republican claims that its foreign-born Haitian residents have been eating pets. Despite local officials debunking the claims and urging politicians – namely Donald Trump and JD Vance – to stop pushing them, their pleas have been ignored.

In the midst of the media frenzy, schools and hospitals in Springfield have been forced to close after receiving threats. Those threats specifically cite the immigrant population.

On Sunday, Vance was actually confronted for those false claims on CNN. During an interview with Dana Bash, he admitted to “creating” stories in an effort to get the American public to focus on the issues he feels are worth the attention.

Despite being more than 1,000 miles away from the Springfield, the Heat – who play in a county with more than 58,000 foreign-born Haitians – called out the “false narrative.”

“The Miami Heat staff, like Miami itself, is a diverse and brilliant mix of vibrant cultures, including many members of our Haitian community,” the team said. “The false narrative surrounding them is extremely hurtful and offensive and has sadly made innocent people targets of hateful speech and physical threats.

“Our Haitian employees, fans and friends deserve better.”

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