Grieving Ohio Father Tells Trump and Vance to Stop Talking About His Son
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Barely an hour before the presidential debate the father of an 11-year-old Ohio boy killed when an immigrant’s minivan crashed into a school bus lashed out at Donald J. Trump and his running mate, JD Vance.
Speaking during public comment at a regular meeting of the Springfield City Commission, the father, Nathan Clark, called them “morally bankrupt” politicians spreading hate at the expense of his son, Aiden. Mr. Clark said, “This needs to stop now.”
The death of Aiden Clark, who was thrown from the bus after the minivan driver, who is Haitian, veered into oncoming traffic just over a year ago, shook residents of Springfield, a blue-collar town between Dayton and Columbus. And it touched off a wave of angry rhetoric over the thousands of immigrants from Haiti who have settled in the area since the pandemic.
But it was not until Mr. Vance took note in July that the city was thrust into the contentious national immigration debate.
This week, Mr. Vance doubled down, repeating scurrilous claims that people “who shouldn’t be in this country” were abducting and eating their neighbors’ pets in Springfield. Mr. Trump’s campaign amplified the baseless rumors, even after authorities debunked them.
On Monday, the Trump campaign posted on social media about Aiden, including his photo and that of Hermanio Joseph, the Haitian immigrant who struck the bus.
Then, on Tuesday, Vance referred to Aiden in a post on X, saying that “a child was murdered by a Haitian migrant.”
“My son was not murdered,” he said. “He was accidentally killed by an immigrant from Haiti.”
“This tragedy is felt all over this community, the state and even the nation, but don’t spin this towards hate,” he said in his remarks at the commission meeting, which was live streamed.
City officials have said thousands of Haitians have settled in Springfield. Fleeing one of the most troubled countries in the world, the immigrants have helped revitalize the town , whose population had been dwindling in recent decades. But the speed and volume of arrivals have put pressure on housing, schools and health services.
Since Aiden’s death in August 2023, residents have been packing City Commission meetings to air grievances about the immigrants.
But the vitriol has intensified in recent months, with attendees often making denigrating comments about Haitians, such as that they have low IQs. Some of the critics have also insinuated that the immigrants have brought disease and crime to the city, which health officials and the police have denied.
More than 20 students were also injured when Mr. Joseph’s minivan struck the school bus en route to school last year. He carried a driver’s license that was not valid in Ohio. The authorities did not find evidence he had consumed alcohol or drugs. In May, Mr. Joseph, 36, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and could serve up to nine years in prison.
On Tuesday night, Mr. Clark, a teacher, cited four politicians whom he described as “morally bankrupt” for using Aiden to advance their interests — Mr. Trump; Mr. Vance; Bernie Moreno, the Ohio Republican nominee for the Senate; and Representative Chip Roy, a Republican of Texas.
“They have spoken my son’s name and used his death for political gain,” he said from the podium.
“They can vomit all the hate they want about illegal immigrants, the border crisis and even untrue claims that fluffy cats are being ravaged and eaten by community members,” Mr. Clark said.
“They are not allowed, nor have they ever been allowed to mention Aiden Clark from Springfield, Ohio,” he continued.
In a statement sent to The Times in response to Mr. Clark’s criticism, Luke Schroeder , a spokesman for Mr. Vance, faulted Vice President Kamala Harris for the administration’s border policies and said that the Clark family was in Mr. Vance’s prayers.
Mr. Clark said that Aiden studied different cultures and accepted everyone. As his parent, he was committed to honoring his son’s memory in that spirit, he said.
“Sure we have our problems here in Springfield and in the U.S.,” he said. “But does Aiden Clark have anything to do with that?”
Ms. Clark, who is also a teacher, unfurled a red T-shirt emblazoned with #LiveLikeAiden on the back and held it up for the audience, which responded with applause. Then the couple exited the chambers.
"In a statement sent to The Times in response to Mr. Clark’s criticism, Luke Schroeder, a spokesman for Mr. Vance, faulted Vice President Kamala Harris for the administration’s border policies and said that the Clark family was in Mr. Vance’s prayers."
Oh well, being in J.D's. prayers is the balm for all things he lies about ... thanx Luke! Now how about changing your name to something a tad less biblical.
maga using dead people as political props seems to be in vogue this election cycle...
The Haitians didn't cross the "border". They were invited to come to Springfield. And if I recall correctly, Haiti is an island in the Carribean
You HAVE to cross a border to enter America.
The Haitians didn't cross the "border". They were invited to come to Springfield. And if I recall correctly, Haiti is an island in the Carribean
Yes-- its an island called Hispanola. It consists of two countries: The Dominican Republic (culturally a lot like Puerto Rico) and Haiti (which is French speaking-- with a lot of poverty-- also crime. And Earthquakes.).
I met a lot of them in Florida. They tended to be super-honest! Why? Because they were terrified of being deported to Haiti which is not a nice place to live. And they were afraid of being deported.
Maga and QAnon You Tubers are flocking into Springfield trying to "prove" that pets are being eaten . I'm afraid its gone past the point where they care about Mr. Clark's pleas.
It’s disgusting the way they use this family, and especially the boy, for their own gain. And you know good and hell well, they haven’t talked to this family at all. Trump and Vance don’t care about them or the town of Springfield. They only care about getting their political base riled up over fake bullshit.
maga knows that the families of the dead kids, pets, and service members can't do anything about it...
also, who are you and what have you done with tacos?
I could be wrong, but my guess would be that he probably eats them!
The bitter end of MAGA is reminiscent of the bitter end of Joe McCarthy!
“It’s possible, of course, that all of these rumors will turn out to be false,”
Until then, we’ll keep repeating this evidence-free rumor as if it is fact. We are under no obligation to be honest.
Over centuries this country has had many immigrants that didn't speak English. (Until they learned it-- then they did speak English)
The pain that the father is enduring from his son's death is more than enough to try and deal with, without the two idiots using the child's death as a political point.
They should be ashamed of themselves.
So appalling. They have no consciences. They are pathetic USERS.
WAIT! Donald and trumpists used this family's loss in public discussion WITHOUT asking for permission first? Without talking to the family first?! What gall! Who does that?! How disrespectful! And now Donald and trumpists have the REQUIRED 'egg on their faces' . . . reminiscent of songwriters and singers requesting the de-platforming of their musical scores!
It is truly shameful that Trump and Vance are exploiting this family's tragedy for their political gain. It's impossible to imagine that either one of them will ever provide the sincere apology the family deserves. Their depravity knows no bounds.
There is something screwy about the polling results; Trump and Vance are insulting and. . . antagonizing millions of potential voters and yet still close in the running in swing states. . . it makes little to no commonsense.
Maybe the polling is rigged.
Could be. It is rumored (and may be factual too) that Nate Silver has been 'bought' by Peter Theil, a billionaire collaborator of J.D. Vance.