This is Aiden Clark. he was on a bus last year and was killed when a car allegedly driven by a Haitian immigrant collided with the bus. This happened in Springfield, Ohio. yes, the same Springfield, Ohio, where lies have been spread about cats and dogs being eaten by Haitian immigrants.

Despite the pleas of Aiden‘s parents, Republicans have used Aiden‘s death as a touchstone for the immigration issue.

Aiden’s dad appeared before the Springfield city commission this week pleading that Aiden’s death not be used in this way. His speech is quoted below. It is fairly long, but the heartbreak that Aiden‘s parents are enduring because of this is quite clear.

“Iwish that my son Aiden Clark was killed by a 60-year-old white man.

I bet you never thought anyone would say something so blunt. But if that guy killed my 11-year-old son, the incessant group of hate-spewing people would leave us alone. The last thing we need is the worst day of our lives violently and constantly shoved in our faces.

But even that’s not good enough for them. They take it one step further. They make it seem like our wonderful Aiden appreciates all your hate; that we should follow your hate. And look what it’s done to us. We have to get up here and beg them to stop. Using Aiden as a political tool is, to say the least, reprehensible for any political purpose.

Speaking of morally bankrupt, politicians [Republican U.S. Senate candidate] Bernie Moreno, [Republican U.S. Rep.] Chip Roy, [Republican vice-presidential candidate] JD Vance and [former Republican president] Donald Trump — they have spoken my son’s name and used his death for political gain. This needs to stop now.

They can vomit all the hate they want about illegal immigrants, the border crisis and even untrue claims about fluffy pets being ravaged and eaten by community members. However, they are not allowed — nor have they ever been allowed — to mention Aiden Clark from Springfield, Ohio. I will listen to them one more time to hear their apologies.

To clear the air, my son Aiden Clark was not murdered. He was accidentally killed by an immigrant from Haiti. This tragedy is felt all over this community, this state and even the nation — but don’t spin this towards hate. In order to live like Aiden, you need to accept everyone, choose to shine, make the difference, lead the way and be the inspiration.

What many people in this community and state and nation are doing is the opposite of what we should be doing. Sure, we have our problems here in Springfield and in the U.S., but does Aiden Clark have anything to do with that?

Did you know an 11-year-old boy could be passionate about gardening? That he could haggle for a better price at a yard sale? Did you know that he researched different cultures to better appreciate and understand people that he interacted with?

Did you know that one of the worst feelings in the world is not being able to protect your child? Even worse, we can’t protect his memory when he’s gone.

Please stop the hate. I said to Aiden that I would try to make a difference in his honor. This is it. Live like Aiden.”

Just heartbreaking.