Fact Check: Yes, Photo Shows Packed Haitian Restaurant in Springfield, Ohio, Following False Claims

Reddit
Reddit

Claim:

A photo shows a Haitian restaurant in Springfield, Ohio, packed with customers following former U.S. President Donald Trump's attacks on the community.

Rating:

Rating: True
Rating: True

Following former U.S. President Donald Trump's elevation of unfounded claims that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, had eaten pets and park animals, numerous bomb threats forced the closure of schools and public buildings in the small town.

Against this backdrop, pictures of a packed restaurant described as a Haitian eatery in Springfield began to go viral on multiple social media platforms, including Reddit, where it was described as showing Springfield residents dining at the restaurant:

This description is accurate. The photo was taken at a Haitian-Creole restaurant in Springfield, Ohio, named Rose Goute Creole on Sep. 13, 2024. Local television news outlet Dayton 24/7 Now captured several images of the large turnout including the one above. Further, The interior in the viral image matches images of the restaurant taken when it opened in July 2023.

"The restaurant staff was too busy to sit down with Dayton 24/7 Now," the outlet reported. "However, they did tell us Friday's turnout was far more than ever expected and the amount of support was overwhelming."

Because the image was taken at a Haitian restaurant in Springfield following Trump's elevation of baseless claims of pet-eating by the local Haitian community, the claim is "True."

Sources:

"Bomb Threats Force Second Consecutive Day of School Closures in Springfield, Ohio." NBC News, 13 Sept. 2024, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/bomb-threats-force-second-consecutive-day-school-closures-springfield-rcna171043.

Falloon, Gwyneth. "'Conquer with Love': Springfield Community Shows Support for Haitian Neighbors." WSYX, 13 Sept. 2024, https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/conquer-with-love-springfield-community-shows-support-for-haitian-neighbors.

"New Haitian Restaurant Opens in Springfield." Springfield-News-Sun, https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/new-haitian-restaurant-opens-in-springfield/Z4KJ2OBYRFD3TEKVTMOGITHI44/. Accessed 16 Sept. 2024.

"Springfield Haitian Restaurant Draws Crowds; Manager Says, 'We Came Here to Work.'" Springfield-News-Sun, https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/springfield-haitian-restaurant-draws-crowds-manager-says-we-came-here-to-work/XCYRX35OPNDZ3OTQJUMMY7SH6M/. Accessed 16 Sept. 2024.