cover of episode The Sunday Read: ‘Their Son’s Death Was Devastating. Then Politics Made It Worse.’

The Sunday Read: ‘Their Son’s Death Was Devastating. Then Politics Made It Worse.’

2024/11/3
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People
D
Danielle Clark
E
Eli Ash
H
Heath Justice
J
John Loney
N
Nathan Clark
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Sheriff Deputy
Topics
Eli Ash: 本文报道了俄亥俄州斯普林菲尔德克拉克一家在儿子艾登死于校车事故后，遭遇的仇恨和政治操弄。艾登的死被利用，引发了针对移民的仇恨和暴力，甚至波及到海地教堂。艾登的父亲在社区会议上呼吁停止仇恨，却因此遭到威胁。作者被艾登父亲的勇气所感动，决定撰写这篇文章。在斯普林菲尔德调查时，作者发现多个仇恨团体活动猖獗，克拉克一家不仅承受丧子之痛，还因为反对仇恨言论而受到死亡威胁。作者与克拉克一家相处后，感受到人性的美好与希望。 Nathan Clark: 在市政会议上，克拉克夫妇直言不讳地表达了他们的不满，希望停止对艾登之死的政治利用以及由此产生的仇恨言论和暴力行为。他们一直以来都对不同文化背景的人持包容态度，从未将愤怒指向整个移民群体，只是希望能够保护艾登的记忆，并希望人们能够以同情和体谅的态度来对待他们的悲痛。 Danielle Clark: 克拉克夫妇对利用艾登之死进行政治宣传感到愤怒和恶心，认为那些人根本不了解他们的感受。他们经历了巨大的悲痛，并努力应对丧子之痛以及由此引发的各种威胁和骚扰。他们希望停止仇恨，并相信爱和同情最终会战胜仇恨。 Sheriff Deputy: 仇恨团体活动猖獗，让人担忧，并为克拉克一家提供保护措施。 Heath Justice: 牧师对克拉克一家遭遇的仇恨和威胁感到震惊和难过，认为大选加剧了社会中的偏见和仇恨。他选择以爱和包容应对仇恨，并帮助海地牧师在俄亥俄州建立新的教会。他认为重要的是爱和同情，而不是政治。 John Loney: 洛尼警官讲述了事故发生当天的情况，以及他如何照顾艾登遗体，并对利用艾登之死进行政治宣传感到愤怒。他与克拉克夫妇分享了事故发生当天的细节，表达了对他们的同情和支持。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why did the Clark family become targets of hate after their son's death?

Their son's death in a bus crash caused by a Haitian immigrant became politicized during the presidential campaign, leading to a wave of anti-immigrant rhetoric and hate directed at the family.

How did the political climate affect the Clark family's grief?

The politicization of their son's death led to public displays of hate and death threats, making their grief more traumatic and isolating.

What actions did Nathan Clark take to try and stop the hate?

Nathan publicly asked for an end to the hate at a city meeting and reached out to a trusted politician, Rob Rue, for support.

How did the community's response to the bus crash differ from the Clark family's wishes?

The community called for retribution and increased enforcement against immigrants, which the Clarks did not support, as they believed in compassion and diversity.

What role did Pastor Heath Justice play in supporting the Clark family?

Pastor Justice provided emotional support and shared his perspective on dealing with prejudice and fear, advocating for compassion and understanding.

How did Nathan Clark cope with his grief?

Nathan used a technique called intentional grieving, visiting places that reminded him of his son and coaching his son's former baseball team to find healing.

What was the immediate aftermath of the bus crash for the Clark family?

The family was overwhelmed with confusion and panic, unable to find their son at the fire station and eventually being told he had died in the crash.

How did Officer Loney's actions provide comfort to the Clark family?

Officer Loney stayed with their son's body after the crash, ensuring he was not alone, which provided a sense of solace to the grieving parents.

Chapters
The Clark family's tragedy is exploited by political figures and hate groups, turning their son's death into a political tool.
  • Aiden's death in a bus crash is used by political figures to spread anti-immigrant rhetoric.
  • Hate groups exploit the tragedy, leading to death threats and racist propaganda against the Clarks.
  • The family faces a wave of hatred and violence, making their grief even more unbearable.

Shownotes Transcript

A sheriff’s deputy arrived at Nathan and Danielle Clark’s front door on the outskirts of Springfield, Ohio, in September with the latest memento of what their son’s death had become. “I’m sorry that I have to show you this,” she said and handed them a flier with a picture of Aiden, 11, smiling at the camera after his last baseball game. It was the same image the Clarks had chosen for his funeral program and then made into Christmas ornaments for his classmates, but this time the photograph was printed alongside threats and racial slurs.

“Killed by a Haitian invader,” the flier read. “They didn’t care about Aiden. They don’t care about you. They are pieces of human trash that deserve not your sympathy, but utter scorn. Give it to them … and then some.”

“They have no right to speak for him like this,” Danielle said. “It’s making me sick. There must be some way to stop it.”

This was the version of the country the Clarks and their two teenage children had encountered during the last year, ever since Aiden died in a school bus crash in August 2023 on the way to his first day of sixth grade. The crash was ruled an accident, caused by a legally registered Haitian immigrant who veered into the bus while driving without a valid license. But as the presidential campaign intensified, former President Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, began to tell a different story.

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