Our view: The importance of fact-checking, especially before an election

On Sept. 10, Democratic candidate and current vice president Kamala Harris and Republican candidate and former president Donald Trump faced off for their first in person debate, discussing abortion, the economy and immigration. When asked about immigration and the border, Trump said millions of people are coming into towns across the country, saying immigrants are eating citizens' pets.

This echoes a statement made by Trump's vice president candidate JD Vance, who said in a Sept. 9 tweet that reports show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by illegal Haitian immigrants.

The claims spread rapidly across the Internet and have led to real world consequences. Schools and universities have received bomb threats, causing classes to be cancelled and security to be increased, according to CNN. Members of the Haitian community said in a New York Times that they do not feel safe and are considering leaving the city.

The rumor has reached Logansport too, where many in the Haitian community come for job opportunities at locations like Tyson and Subaru. Giovanni Sejour, manager of Haitian grocery Sejour's Caribbean Grocery, said the rumors and viral images are taking a step backwards. He said the claims are not only affecting Haitians, but African Americans too.

"I think it's pretty messed up. It makes me a little scared, especially living in a state that's pretty red," Sejour said. "As a political tactic, I think it's pretty low to do."

However, so much of the information and evidence that has spread alongside this rumor is simply not true and has been debunked. A video of a supposed Haitian immigrant, who is actually US citizen, eating a cat was taken in Canton, the Columbus Dispatch says. The Springfield woman who made the initial Facebook post claiming Haitians killed her neighbor's daughter's friend's cat has admitted she has no evidence to support this, an from Newsweek says.

Officials have also come out to debunk claims, with Springfield police saying there have been no reports of people's pets being abducted by immigrants, according to the Springfield News-Sun. Ohio governor Mike DeWine said there are no evidence to the rumors and that the Haitians in Springfield are here legally to work, according to CNN.

As this rumor has shown, the spread of misinformation and claims without evidence can do real damage to real people. As the 2024 presidential election draws closer, it is a good time to remember to fact-check and research what you see online.

AARP recommends utilizing resources like Politifact and factcheck.org to double-check politicians' statements. They also suggest finding reliable sources that verify their information, not relying on one source for a story, especially if it seems extreme, and stopping to think before sharing something online.

Wright State University says one of the most effective ways to prevent misinformation and fake news is to stop and evaluate it before sharing. In a time where lies spread faster than truth, and where simple misinformation online can have real world consequences, we owe it to both ourselves and everyone else to ensure what we share online is truthful.