 "Who is the Indian-American attorney representing Haitians, seeking Trump-Vance arrest?")
The Haitian community living in Ohio has been in the news since former President Donald Trump accused the immigrant community of “eating cats and dogs” during a presidential debate.
The misleading claims even led to chaos and bomb threats to the region.
Now, in a new development, the leader of a non-profit representing the community has invoked a private-citizen right to file charges against Trump and his running mate, JD Vance.
The Haitian Bridge Alliance made the move after inaction by the local prosecutor, said their attorney, Subodh Chandra of the Cleveland-based Chandra Law firm.
Here’s all we know about him.
Who is Subodh Chandra?
Subodh Chandra is a co-founder and managing partner at The Chandra Law Firm LLC.
A former federal prosecutor, he focuses on civil rights litigation, along with white-collar criminal defence and internal investigations, according to his website. He has handled high-profile cases like the police shooting death of 12-year-old Tamir Rice by Cleveland police.
Chandra oversaw the work of an 82-lawyer department with both criminal and civil divisions while serving as the city of Cleveland’s director of law prior to starting the business.
He began his legal journey as the American Bar Association’s special presidential counsel.
Chandra is an alumnus of the Yale Law School and has graduated with honours and distinction from Stanford University.
He has long been involved in helping those who want to work in public service. In 2006, he ran for Ohio attorney general and received the majority of newspaper endorsements.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsHe is the co-vice chair of the US Commission on Civil Rights’ Special Ohio Advisory Committee.
Also read: Are US migrants eating pet cats and ducks? Bizarre rumour pushed by Donald Trump
What are the charges against Trump and Vance?
Chandra filed the criminal complaint against Trump and Vance with the Clark County Municipal Court on Tuesday, on behalf of the Haitian Bridge Alliance.
Trump and Vance, a US Senator from Ohio, are charged with disrupting public services, making false alarms, telecommunications harassment, aggravated menacing and complicity.
The filing asks the Clark County Municipal Court to affirm that there is probable cause and issue arrest warrants against Trump and Vance or refer the matter to the prosecutor for further investigation.
Although Chandra has strong Democratic Party ties, he insisted that this had no bearing on his decision to take up the case.
“Their persistence and relentlessness, even in the face of the governor and the mayor saying this is false, that shows intent. It’s knowing, wilful flouting of criminal law,” Chandra said.
“If it were anyone else other than Trump and Vance who had done what they’ve done – wreak havoc on Springfield, resulting in bomb threats, evacuated and closed government buildings and schools, threats to the mayor and his family – they would have been arrested by now. They are not above the law,” he added.
Charges brought by private citizens are rare, but not unheard of, in Ohio. For instance, a grocery store charging a customer for a bounced check.
State law requires a hearing to take place before the affidavit can move forward. As of Tuesday afternoon, none had been scheduled.
What is Trump campaign’s response?
Steven Cheung, communications director for the Trump-Vance campaign, said, “President Trump is rightfully highlighting the failed immigration system that (Vice President) Kamala Harris has overseen, bringing thousands of illegal immigrants pouring into communities like Springfield and many others across the country.”
What’s the controversy?
For the past week, Springfield has been the talk of the town due to false rumours that Haitian migrants have been killing and eating pets.
These claims have been reiterated by Republican presidential nominee and Vance.
On September 10, in his first debate with Democrat rival Kamala Harris, Trump claimed, “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs – the people that came in. They’re eating the cats.”
Trump’s comments echoed claims made by his campaign, including his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, and other Republicans.
The claims attracted attention when Vance posted on social media that his office has “received many inquiries,” about Haitian migrants abducting pets.
Vance later acknowledged it was possible “all of these rumours will turn out to be false.”
Officials have said there have been no credible or detailed reports about the claims, even as Trump and his allies use them to amplify racist stereotypes about black and brown immigrants.
Because of the claims, however, more than 30 bomb threats were directed at state and local government buildings and schools, prompting closures, and the assignment of additional law enforcement protection and security cameras.
Some of the city’s Haitian residents have also said they feared their safety as public vitriol grew, and Mayor Rob Rue has received death threats.
What’s behind the rumour?
On September 6, a post surfaced on X that shared what looked like a screengrab of a social media post apparently out of Springfield.
The retweeted post talked about the person’s “neighbour’s daughter’s friend” seeing a cat hanging from a tree to be butchered and eaten, claiming without evidence that Haitians lived at the house.
The accompanying photo showed a black man carrying what appeared to be a Canada goose by its feet. That post continued to get shared on social media.
Springfield is a small town in Ohio.
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) September 6, 2024
4 years ago, they had 60k residents.
Under Harris and Biden, 20,000 Haitian immigrants were shipped to the town.
Now ducks and pets are disappearing. pic.twitter.com/OOFq3ZdTiA
On Monday, Vance posted on X.
“Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country. Where is our border czar?” he said.
The next day, Vance posted again on X about Springfield, saying his office had received inquiries from residents who said “their neighbours’ pets or local wildlife were abducted by Haitian migrants. It’s possible, of course, that all of these rumours will turn out to be false.”
Other Republicans shared similar posts.
Among them was Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who posted a photo of kittens with a caption that said to vote for Trump “So Haitian immigrants don’t eat us.”
Hours before Trump’s debate with Harris, he posted two related photos on his social media site.
One Truth Social post was a photo of Trump surrounded by cats and geese. Another featured armed cats wearing MAGA hats.
Why did so many Haitians move to Springfield?
Jobs and word of mouth.
Springfield shed manufacturing jobs and its population decreased significantly as a result towards the end of the last century.
However, the city has made a concerted effort to lure employers and Haitians immigrants have helped meet rising demand for labour in factories and warehouses.
Word spread, and Haitians began arriving in greater numbers over the last few years.
Haitians in Springfield and elsewhere came to the US to flee violence in their home country.
The 15,000 to 20,000 Haitian immigrants who have arrived in Springfield over the past several years have been granted Temporary Protected Status to be in the US legally.
With inputs from agencies
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
