Rick Scott threw Haitian Americans under the bus for Trump. Florida deserves better | Opinion
Florida is a naturally beautiful, diverse, and welcoming state, which are some of the many reasons I'm proud to call it home. We are also a cultural melting pot. More than five million immigrants live in Florida — the majority from the Caribbean and Latin America. I am one of them. I left Haiti In 1981 and came to Florida in search of a better life for me and for my family.
Thankfully, I was not alone. Thousands of Haitians came before me, and many have followed. South Florida is home to the largest Haitian population in the United States — a thriving community of over 600,000 hardworking and generous people.
We are healthcare, legal and education professionals; first responders; small business owners; caretakers; public servants and so much more. We are proud of who we are and where we come from, and we are proud of all we've contributed to Florida's culture and economy.
That is why we were hurt and disgusted to hear the absurd lies about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, who are here legally under Temporary Protected Status . These immigrants, like so many here in Florida, came to the U.S. to escape poverty and violence in their home country. We were shocked and angry to hear these egregious lies come straight from the mouth of former President Trump. These lies are not only offensive, but also incredibly dangerous.
Frankly, I've stopped expecting any decency from Donald Trump. I don't waste my time waiting for the former president to apologize for his offensive and racist rhetoric towards immigrants. But as a Floridian who understands the responsibility of leadership, I demand better from our elected officials.
That's why I was appalled to see our very own senator, Rick Scott, amplify these dangerous lies. Despite representing nearly half of all Haitian Americans, Scott decided to fan the flames, putting the very people he was elected to represent in danger: "It sounds pretty scary for the citizens of Springfield," he said, in a Sept. 10 interview with a conservative news outlet. Scott stood by and let his Republican allies spew hateful lies just to score cheap political points. He refused to stand up for the Haitian community. He refused to do what was right.
We won't forget that Scott threw us under the bus. Haitian American voters will hold him accountable at the ballot box. We will work to defeat Scott and elect Debbie Mucarsel-Powell — an immigrant herself — who understands that an attack on one immigrant community is an attack on all of us.
Haitian Americans have been through enough. We've watched our home country slip into chaos. We deserve a senator who will have our back, protect all constituents, and work across the aisle to find real solutions to the crisis in Haiti.
Rick Scott has proven he won't stand up for Haitian Americans. Florida and the nation deserve better.
