Nathan Clark, whose son died in a bus crash in Ohio last year, on Tuesday called on former President Trump and his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), to stop using his son's death as a “political tool” to spread “hatred” against immigrants.
At Tuesday's Springfield City Commission meeting, a grieving father said he wished his son, Aiden Clark, had been killed by a 60-year-old white man rather than being “killed in an accident” when his school bus was struck by a Haitian immigrant's minivan.
“I never thought anyone would be so forthright in saying something like that,” Nathan Clark added at the meeting, “but if that man killed my 11-year-old son, these haters would leave us alone.”
“To be violently and constantly thrust upon the worst day of our lives is the worst thing we can do,” added Nathan Clark, who stood next to his wife during the public comment portion of the regular meeting, which was livestreamed.
Immigration has been a contentious issue in Springfield, which has seen a large influx of Haitian migrants in recent years, and the city has become the center of a national political debate as Trump and Vance have made the border issue a central part of their campaigns.
Vance fired back at criticism this week for spreading false rumors about Haitian immigrants in Springfield eating pets, referencing the death of Aiden Clarke. In a post on X, Vance said that while the rumors may not be true, “a child was murdered by Haitian immigrants” is.
Nathan Clark on Tuesday called his son's death a tragic accident. “Aiden wasn't murdered. He was accidentally killed by a Haitian immigrant,” he said.
Aiden Clark was killed when a minivan driven by a Haitian immigrant crossed lanes and struck a school bus. was convicted of manslaughterAccording to a report from The New York Times.
Nathan Clark named Trump, Vance, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Ohio Senate candidate Bernie Moreno, saying they were “morally bankrupt” politicians who used his son's name to “assume that our wonderful Aiden understands your hate and that we should follow theirs.”
“And think about what you've done to us,” Nathan Clark continued. “We have to stand up here and beg them to stop. Using Aiden as a political tool is reprehensible, to say the least, for any political purpose.”
“This needs to stop now. They can spew all the hate they want about illegal immigration, the border crisis and even false claims about fluffy pets being ravaged and eaten by local residents, but they are not allowed to mention Aiden Clark of Springfield, Ohio, and never have been allowed to,” he said.
Nathan Clark called for politicians to apologise and said he would “listen to them again” to do so, and urged people to live like Aiden.
“This tragedy is being felt across our region, state and country. But let's not turn this to hate. To live like Aiden, we need to embrace all people. Choose to shine, to make a difference, to lead and to be an inspiration. What many in our region, state and country are doing is the opposite of what you should be doing. Of course there are problems in Springfield and the United States, but does Aiden Clarke have anything to do with it?”
“One of the worst feelings in the world is not being able to protect your child,” he added, concluding his remarks. “And what's even worse is that when he's gone, we can't even protect his memory. Please stop the hate. I told Aiden I would try to make a difference in his honor. This is what I'm doing. Live your life Aiden.”
The Hill has reached out to the Trump campaign for response.
“Kamala Harris should apologize to the angel mothers who testified before Congress yesterday. Will she also apologize to Tammy Nobles, Alexis Nungarei and Ann Pfundner, who hold Harris and her open border policies responsible for the deaths of their children,” Vance spokesman Luke Schroeder said in an emailed statement after the article was published.
“Senator Vance is praying for the Clark family,” Schroeder continued.
The Haitians who settled in Springfield are legally residing in the U.S. under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program.
The Trump campaign also addressed the incident earlier this week.
“11-year-old Aiden Clark was killed on his way to school in Springfield, Ohio by Haitian immigrants allowed into the country by Kamala Harris. @KamalaHarris refuses to say Aiden's name,” the Trump campaign account posted on social platform X on Monday.
beFrequently Asked Questions PageThe Haitian Quarter, administered by the Springfield Police Department, is home to between 12,000 and 15,000 Haitians legally living in the Midwestern city under the TPS program, a population that Springfield Mayor Brian Heck estimated at 15,000 to 20,000 in a separate letter cited by Vance.
The Biden administration expanded TPS designation to Haiti in June, allowing an estimated 309,000 Haitians to live and work in the U.S. without fear of deportation.
Updated at 8:38pm ET.
