Not just Springfield: Washington, Indiana, becomes another right-wing anti-Haitian flashpoint

Downtown Washington, Indiana. | Photo via Indiana University Bloomington

WASHINGTON, Ind.—Recent months have seen a disturbing rise in violent and xenophobic rhetoric across the United States targeting Haitian immigrants specifically and immigrants generally. This surge in anti-immigrant sentiment has been especially apparent in small-town America, where communities like Washington, Indiana, have been ground zero for the dissemination of this hate. These anti-immigrant lies are not only pervasive but deeply rooted in public discourse and are at the forefront of an intensifying struggle.

Washington, Indiana, located in Daviess County, holds the distinction of having the highest percentage of Haitian immigrants in the entire state – 5% of the city’s population. Additionally, 14.7% of the population hails from Latin American countries, meaning that immigrants and immigrant families account for nearly 20% of Washington’s residents.

Contrary to the sensationalized portrayals of immigrant communities as a “threat,” these individuals are integral to the city’s working-class fabric, contributing labor, culture, and vitality to the little industry and social life that remains here after decades of deindustrialization. U.S. Census data reflects that 95% of Washington’s population are U.S. citizens, up from 94.1% the year prior, challenging the right-wing claims that immigrants are a drain on the country’s resources or social fabric.

However, Washington is not immune to the broader economic crises that afflict working-class communities across the U.S. The city’s poverty rate is 16%, with an alarming 24% of the population under 18 years old living below the poverty line, each rising year after year.

The economic struggles of working families are starkly visible in the city’s housing situation. As of 2023, homeownership had dropped to 52% from 73.5% in 2019, with overcrowded “generational living” and rent-sharing becoming a common way to cope with high housing costs.

The far western edge of the city is known as “Box Town,” a name which originated from the use of salvaged materials from abandoned B & O Railroad boxcars for homes. Meanwhile, wealth inequality remains entrenched, as average household income on the East side of Washington is more than double that of the West End.

The capitalist-driven housing market exacerbates these divides, with 47% of homes in the city being rented out by a few landlords, while real estate projects on the East side – such as a recent $14.5 million housing development – largely serve to reinforce the status quo.

Reactionary rise

In the past few months, we have witnessed firsthand the rise of anti-immigrant hate on a daily basis in Washington. This climate of fear and division is fueled not only by extremist groups but also by elected officials and political figures who stoke xenophobic sentiments for their own gain. Yard signs for the fascist group “Patriot Front” are visible in various parts of the county, and their symbols and sentiments are echoed in propaganda that regularly circulates on streets and local social media.

Republican Daviess County Commissioner and local pastor Tracy Cook has been a key player in promoting far-right rhetoric. Cook has a podcast on which he interviews figures like self-described Christian Nationalist and GOP candidate for Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith, who openly peddles dangerous, reactionary ideas, including conspiracy theories about an “invasion” of migrants. This kind of fear-mongering is not only divisive but also highly manipulative, designed to distract working-class people from the real sources of their economic misery.

The conspiracy theories being pushed by right-wing groups and political leaders are both absurd and dangerous. Online posts warn of “migrant invasions” and promote the false idea of a “great replacement” – the baseless notion that native-born Americans are being systematically replaced by immigrants.

At local city council meetings, organized right-wing groups have demanded “answers” on what they call the “Haitian problem” in Washington, further legitimizing anti-immigrant hysteria. There is even a coordinated effort among some factions to rally against immigrant communities, claiming that they are part of a conspiracy to hurt the families of Daviess County.

In reality, the working-class communities in Washington – whether native-born or immigrant – share many of the same struggles: poverty, job insecurity, inadequate healthcare, dilapidated infrastructure, and unaffordable housing. The hype around supposed immigrant conspiracies only serves to deflect attention from the true forces of exploitation: the capitalist class, which benefits from the division of the working class and the creation of scapegoats.

In the case of Washington, Indiana, the narrative that immigrants are somehow to blame for economic hardship is not only factually incorrect; it also deliberately misdirects attention away from the root causes of the city’s poverty: economic policies that prioritize profits over people.

As Washington’s residents struggle with low wages, rapidly rising housing costs, inadequate social services, and a near-zero unionization rate, it is clear that the real culprits are the monopolistic corporations and wealthy elites who extract wealth from both native-born and immigrant labor.

Immigrants, far from being a burden, are an essential part of the life force that sustains local communities. In the face of growing anti-immigrant rhetoric, it is essential for the working class – both native-born and immigrant – to unite. We must reject the racist and divisive lies being spread by right-wing extremists and politicians who seek to divide us for their own gain. The real battle is not between different communities of working people but against the forces which rely on inequality, exploitation, and division to perpetuate their dominance.

The rise of anti-immigrant sentiment in Washington is part of a broader national pattern. It reflects the deepening crisis of capitalism, which seeks to divide the working class and enrage small-business owners to protect the interests of the ruling elites. In Washington, as across the country, we must continue the fight for a society that values people over profits and where justice, equality, and solidarity are the guiding principles of our collective future.

As with all op-ed and news-analysis articles published by People’s World, the views reflected above are those of the author.

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CONTRIBUTOR

Mac Daibhéid

Mac Daibhéid is a factory worker from southern Indiana.