After using the murder of his 11-year-old son to disparage Haitian immigrants, an Ohio parent denounced J.D. Vance and Donald Trump as “morally bankrupt politicians.”
According to news reports, Aiden Clark’s father criticized Vance for using his son’s death as evidence for his unfounded allegations that immigrants in Springfield were robbing and eating locals’ pets. Aiden Clark was killed in August of last year when a minivan driven by a Haitian immigrant veered left of center and collided with an approaching school bus.
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Nathan Clark recently made an address during the city commission meeting’s public comment period, “I wish that my son, Aiden Clark, was killed by a 60-year-old white man.”
He added, “I bet you never thought anyone would say something so blunt, but if that guy killed my 11-year-old son, the incessant group of hate-spewing people would leave us alone.”
Clarke further remarked, “The last thing that we need is to have the worst day of our lives violently and constantly shoved in our faces, but even that’s not good enough for them.”
He then noted, “They take it one step further. They make it seem that our wonderful Aiden appreciates your hate, that we should follow their hate.”
Springfield, a city in central Ohio with a population of over 58,000 and a metropolitan area of roughly 136,000, is home to between 12,000 and 15,000 Haitian immigrants. Clark pleaded with the Republican presidential ticket and other GOP contenders, such as Senate candidate Bernie Moreno, to refrain from using his family’s tragedy to denigrate immigrants.
“This needs to stop now. They can vomit all the hate they want about illegal immigrants, the border crisis, and even untrue claims about fluffy pets being ravaged and eaten by community members,” Clark noted.
“However, they are not allowed, nor have they ever been allowed, to mention Aiden Clark from Springfield, Ohio. I will listen to them one more time to hear their apologies.”
Having been found guilty of first-degree felony involuntary manslaughter and fourth-degree felony vehicular homicide, Hermanio Joseph—who presented an Ohio ID card and stated in court that he was in Springfield lawfully on temporary protected status—was sentenced to nine to thirteen and a half years in prison. Clark also made similar claims during the May sentencing hearing.
“This tragedy is still all over this community, the state and even the nation, but don’t spin this towards hate,” Clark noted.
He went on to say, “To live like Aiden, you need to accept everyone, choose to shine, make a difference, lead the way and be the inspiration. What many people in this community and state and nation are doing is the opposite of what we should be doing. Sure, we have our problems here in Springfield and in the U.S., but does Aiden Clark have anything to do with that?”
