Wendy Boisrond – a nurse and a supporter of the Haitian Community Center in Spring Valley – said Tuesday the false story coming out of Springfield, Ohio is affecting the approximately 20,000 Haitians who live in Rockland County. Presidential candidate Donald Trump and his supporters have promoted the unverified claims that Haitians in Springfield are killing and eating peoples' pets. Boisrond said now it is beginning to come up at work. "This is 2024, and I have to discuss racism with my patients or – vice-versa – with our coworkers who are asking, 'How do you feel?,' 'What do you think?,' 'Is it true?' Many are asking, is this true?," Boisrond said. At a press conference outside the community center – known to local Haitians as Konbit Neg Lakay – the center's director Renod Julien said more politicians must call the situation as they truly see it, regardless of political party. "It's extremely racist," Julien said. "I never try to be politically correct, because the thing is, the truth hurts, and if you don't speak the truth, the truth will eat you." District 17 Democratic congressional candidate Mondaire Jones was also straightforward at the press conference. "I am appalled, and as you can tell, I am angry," Jones said. "The GOP agenda is clear, ya'll. Stoke fear and lies, pitting us against each other." A spokesperson for Jones' opponent, incumbent Republican Mike Lawler, referred News 12 to Lawler's comments from last week on the steps of the House of Representatives. "I have a very good relationship with the Haitian community," Lawler said. "I think everyone would be well advised and do well not to just jump on rumors." Julien said Konbit Neg Lakay has not received any threats of hateful messages in light of the false claims. He said staff and police are prepared though. When asked whether Lawler finds Trump's propagation of the rumors was irresponsible, Lawler's campaign spokesperson Chris Russell emailed a statement Tuesday afternoon. "Congressman Lawler firmly believes that spreading false information about the Haitian community is unacceptable, and has been clear and consistent in his stance on that," Russell said, in part. "The Congressman remains hard at work helping dozens of constituents from Haiti and will continue to do all he can to help uplift the Haitian community, as he has consistently done."