NJ Silent as Trump, Vance, and GOP Target Haitian Community

In the latest wave of anti-Black, xenophobic, and Afrophobic attacks, Donald Trump, JD Vance, and the Republican Party have escalated their harmful rhetoric against Haitian migrants. Following Trump’s defeat in the first debate against Kamala Harris, his campaign has doubled down on these divisive tactics, viewing them as a way to rally their base, which seems increasingly anxious about the growing presence of Black and Brown communities in the United States.

This strategy continues the bully tactics we’ve seen throughout Trump’s political career, now mirrored in JD Vance’s vice-presidential campaign. They believe spreading dehumanizing lies about Haitian people, who represent a significant voting bloc in states like Florida, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Georgia, is a winning formula. Unfortunately, hate appears to trump political strategy, as the Republican electorate continues to shrink. If Haitian voters in Florida alone unified behind the Democratic Party, the state would no longer be a Republican stronghold. Yet, despite this political reality, hate continues to overshadow common-sense strategy.

The Silence of the New Jersey Republican Party

In New Jersey, the Republican Party has remained complicit, choosing silence in the face of vicious attacks against immigrant communities. The GOP’s political class seems content with divisive rhetoric because it energizes their base and drives voter turnout in competitive districts. Congressmen like Tom Kean, Jr., Jeff Van Drew, and Chris Smith, along with other Republicans, benefit from this xenophobic narrative as they cling to the MAGA movement for political survival. Their silence on the attacks in places like Springfield, Ohio — which are inciting real threats of violence — is disgraceful, especially considering the large Haitian population in New Jersey. These representatives, who claim to champion family values, safety, constitutional protections, and the American Dream, are allowing hate groups to operate unchecked without offering any condemnation. If this continues, many New Jersey residents could also become targets of this violence.

Where Are the Democrats?

Unfortunately, New Jersey Democrats have also fallen short in their response and efforts to humanize migrants targeted by hate groups. It is not enough to simply point fingers at Trump and Vance and label them as bad for America. Our elected officials must actively leverage their influence, platforms, resources, and power to stand with the communities targeted by hate. We’ve heard little from prominent figures like Senator Cory Booker, Senator George Samir Helmy, Governor Phil Murphy, and Congressmembers Andy Kim and Josh Gottheimer, as well as congressional candidates Sue Altman, Nellie Pou, Herb Conaway, and LaMonica McIver. Their silence in the face of escalating racial and political violence is deafening. Haitian Americans and other vulnerable communities deserve to hear from those who claim to represent them, from Atlantic City to Jersey City, Asbury Park to the Borough of Roselle. Where are our local elected officials and mayors in this crucial moment?

Immigrant Rights Organization

It’s also disappointing to not see prominent human and immigrant rights organizations such as the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant justice ACLU, Make the Road NJ, AFSC Immigrant Rights Program and so many more not take a stand with the Haitian community, especially since Black immigrants are disproportionately targeted by hate groups, our criminalization’s system, hate groups and our legacy of systemic anti-Blackness. A social media post is below the minimum but some of them are not even doing that to combat the dehumanizing narrative and misinformation being used by anti-immigration public officials.

A Call to Action for the Haitian Community

Haitian people, you must stay politically involved and engaged in the electoral process. This battle is bigger than stupid politicians using dehumanizing rhetoric for political points; it is rooted in a is rooted in a broader system of white supremacy that fuels fear and division, particularly among white people and people who internalize anti-Blackness. It’s perfectly fine to be proud of our Haitian heritage but remember our ancestors knew they were from Africa and their fight for freedom was rooted in liberation of all Black people globally. Whether you’re a new Haitian immigrant or a fourth-generation Haitian American, we all shared responsibility to stay in solidarity with the entire Black community resisting white supremacy, harmful legislation and defending ourselves from people trying to strip us of our God-given rights. The pursuit of freedom, dignity, and human rights continues — and no one is truly free until we all are free.

Archange Antoine, M.A.; M.Div.

Senior Minister – A Place to Connect with God

Board Chairman – Compassionate Clergy of America

Compassionate Clergy of America is a network of faith leaders dedicated to protecting human rights and dignity for the most vulnerable across America. Through political involvement, community partnerships, and advocacy for transformational legislation, these clergy move towards justice and work toward liberation at every level of society. Compassionate Clergy of America is an initiative of A Place to Connect with God, enabling clergy to take action on social justice issues beyond the faith community.

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10 responses to “NJ Silent as Trump, Vance, and GOP Target Haitian Community”

  1. Can always find a hate rant by “Thomas Jefferson”. Springfield Ohio has a community of LEGAL Haitians and it has had to evacuate schools full of small children, majority white native born American kids, due to bomb threats. Thanks to Vance. From reading history I know these false hate rumors were first towards Irish, then Italians here in NJ. The nasty, lying hate filled comments were not true about Irish or Italians, Jews or Haitians.

  2. I would ask the staff at insider to reprimand or remove the poster using Thomas Jefferson for referring to AuthorAntoine as faux pastor.

    Minister Archange Antoine, M.A, is a M.Div. candidate at Princeton Theological Seminary, Principal Strategists at Savviors, former professor at Kean University, former Roselle School Board President, and the previous Executive Director at Faith in New Jersey.

  3. I see I was censored for telling the truth. As Archange Antoine espouses that Republicans have hatred for Haitian “migrants”, I remind the writer and those that want to censor me that the Haitian “migrants” are ILLEGAL ALIENS that have not been vetted by the proper protocols of our immigration system. Antoine expresses his hateful attitude towards Republican candidate President Trump, V.P. candidate J.D. Vance, and Republicans in general. He makes wide sweeping false allegations against Republicans, such as they are “Afrophobic”. Really????? President Trumps polling with the black community is now over 20%. With the hispanic community, it is pushing 50%. In fact, President Trump was in the Bronx doing an impromptu rally this Summer, and there were thousands of blacks, Haitians, Jamaicans and other Caribbean minorities being represented at his rally.

    Does this sound biggoted or “Afrophobic”???? Antoine makes the specious statement: “In the latest wave of anti-Black, xenophobic, and Afrophobic attacks, Donald Trump, JD Vance, and the Republican Party have escalated their harmful rhetoric against Haitian migrants.”

    That comment talls me Antoine is the bigot and faux minister. Ministers are supposed to bring the community together; not divide it. If you want to censor me for telling the truth, then INSIDERNJ.COM is nothing more than the biggoted, anti-white Communist propaganda arm of the Democrat-Communists, and I dare INSIDERNJ.COM to disprove my comments based on what was written by “Minister” Antoine.

  4. Archangel Antoine, MA, M. Div.

    Excellent, thought-provoking column.
    A column, I thought, was interesting and truthful.

    My belief, as I am sure you have seen or read,
    “I am one with all people because the same Lord is
    Lord of all.”

    And so, I thank you sincerely for your time, effort, and caring so that I could have the honor of reading your column.

    As far as the censored comment, I read part and literally had to stop. Some commenters, and I must admit that I am one of them, have our spirited comments and rants, but never have expressed ourselves in this way. That comment was not representative of all of us.
    I hope you understand.

  5. “Thomas Jefferson,” your hero Trump, who would be a dictator on day one of a future presidency-God forbid-would take away the First Amendment and so much more, but you can’t see past your own hate to see that. You CLEARLY stated that “…Haitian migrants are illegal aliens.” Your syntax clearly indicates here that you mean ALL Haitian migrants are ‘illegal.’ You have no clue or sympathy for how pernicious slavery began in what became Haiti. You ARE a racist.

  6. Please provide proof that the Springfield, Ohio Haitian immigrants are NOT ILLEGAL!!!! If you can’t do that, it’s time to stop your gaslighting and personal ad hominem attacks against those of us enlightening the public with the truth and facts. Otherwise, you’re just more of the Marxist apparatchik drinking the Democrat-Communist cult Kool-Aid.

  7. It is you who needs to get your head out of your duffle bag with the facts. Most of the Haitian Immigrants in that city are documented or eligible to be documented. So stop acting like Charles Boyer to Ingrid Bergman.

  8. Hey WNY Voter: You say “Most” of the Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio are “‘Documented’ and ‘Eligible’ to be documented”. BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! That’s double-speak for the fact that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio are ILLEGAL ALIENS!!!!

  9. Thomas Jefferson, you’re a birther, just like the demagogue Trump you worship. Why don’t you go there and ask each Haitian immigrant there for her or his papers? Where’s your papers?

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