Haitian Americans across the country are pushing back against former President Trump's baseless claims about them by protesting, promising to vote and coming together to celebrate their culture.

Why it matters: As Trump makes immigration the closing argument of his 2024 campaign — without much regard for whether his claims about immigrants are true — Haitian American communities are fighting back by emphasizing their culture and their contributions to U.S. economy.

Driving the news: Haitians in Spring Valley, N.Y.; Boston, Mass., and North Miami, Fla., have organized rallies to protest Trump's false characterizations of Haitian immigrants "eating pets" in Springfield, Ohio.

• This past weekend, 800 women of Haitian descent gathered in Washington, D.C., for three days of celebration and community building, with Trump's attacks very much on their minds.
• "Putting us at a center of an election is unexpected, shocking, obviously painful and dangerous," Ariel Dominque, co-founder of the Haitian Ladies Network, told Axios.
• "So there is a response in terms of how people feel and how people react, and definitely it will have an impact in mobilizing the Haitian American community to vote. "

Zoom in: The annual gathering had outsized importance this year as attendees heard from Haitian icons such as fashion designer Stella Jean and actress Garcelle Beauvais, along with traditional Haitian folk dancing.

• Meanwhile, a network of Haitian American elected officials met to discuss best...

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