SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WCMH/WDTN) — The same evening that former President Donald Trump claimed that Haitian immigrants were causing chaos and eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, the father of a child killed in 2023 spoke at a podium about the political use of his son’s death.
Nathan Clark didn’t mince words when he stood before the Springfield City Commission on Tuesday, after online accusations about Haitian immigrants drew national attention to the Ohio town.
“You know, I wish that my son, Aiden Clark, was killed by a 60-year-old white man,” Clark said. “I bet you never thought anyone would ever 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. The last thing that we need is to have the worst day of our lives violently and constantly shoved in our faces.”
Aiden Clark, a student in Ohio’s Northwestern Local Schools District, died Aug. 22, 2023, when a minivan crashed with his school bus. The van’s driver, Hermanio Joseph, is originally from Haiti. He did not have a valid U.S. driver’s license and instead had one from Mexico. A jury found Joseph guilty of vehicular homicide in May, and a judge sentenced him to nine to 13 years in prison.
During his face-off with Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday, Trump did not directly mention the crash as he exclaimed, “they’re eating the dogs.” But his running mate and one of Ohio’s current U.S. senators, JD Vance, used it as a talking point alongside claims immigrants were abducting pets and causing a local rise in tuberculosis and HIV.
“Do you know what’s confirmed? That a child was murdered by a Haitian migrant who had no right to be here,” Vance wrote.
Springfield Mayor Rob Rue has disputed many of Vance’s claims about what’s going on in the town, and the only visual evidence of animal abductions by the 12,000 to 15,000 migrants has been proven to come from unrelated cases. But Rue said he would not comment on the crash, out of respect for the family. Now, Aiden’s father has said he has never approved Vance, Trump, and other Republican politicians wielding his son’s death for “political gain.”
“Using Aiden as a political tool is, to say the least, reprehensible,” Clark said. “My son, Aiden Clark, was not murdered. He was accidentally killed by an immigrant from Haiti.”
Clark also called out U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) and Ohio senatorial candidate Bernie Moreno for their use of Aiden’s name for political gain, Nexstar’s WDTN reported.
“They can vomit all the hate they want about illegal immigrants,” he continued. “The border crisis, and even untrue claims about fluffy pets being ravaged and eaten by community members. However, they are not allowed, nor have they ever been allowed, to mention Aiden Clark from Springfield, Ohio.”
You can view Clark’s full remarks in the video player above, and in the text below:
“We felt it would be in our best interest to be here after recent comments.
“You know, I wish that my son, Aiden Clark, was killed by a 60-year-old white man. I bet you never thought anyone would ever 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.
“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. They take it one step further. They make it seem as though our wonderful Aiden appreciates your hate. That we should follow their hate.
“And look what you’ve done to us. We have to get up here and beg them to stop. Using Aiden as a political tool is, to say the least, reprehensible for any political purpose. And speaking of morally bankrupt…politicians Bernie Marino, Chip Roy, JD Vance and Donald Trump then spoke in my son’s name and used his death for political gain. 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. 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.
“To clear the air, my son, Aiden Clark, was not murdered. He was accidentally killed by an immigrant from Haiti. This tragedy is felt all over this community, this state and even the nation. But don’t spin this towards hate.
“In order to live like Aiden, you need to accept everyone. Choose to shine. Make the 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 you 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? Did you know that an 11-year-old boy could be passionate about gardening, and he could haggle for a better price at a yard sale? Did you know that he researched different cultures to better appreciate and understand people he interacted with?
“Did you know that one of the worst feelings in the world is to not be able to protect your child? Even worse, we can’t even protect his memory when he’s gone.
“Please stop the hate. I said to Aiden that I would try to make a difference in his honor. This is it. Live like Aiden. Thank you.”