The father of the 11-year-old boy killed last year when a minivan driver struck his school bus spoke at Tuesday’s Springfield City Commission meeting, again pleading with the community to stop using his son’s name as part of hateful statements toward Haitian immigrants.

The father of the 11-year-old boy killed last year when a minivan driver struck his school bus spoke at Tuesday’s Springfield City Commission meeting, again pleading with the community to stop using his son’s name as part of hateful statements toward Haitian immigrants.

Nathan Clark, Aiden Clark’s father, stood next to his wife Danielle at a packed City Commission meeting, urging people to cease using his son to further their political views.

“I wish 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,” Clark told the city hall forum. “The last thing that we need is to have 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 that our wonderful Aiden appreciates your hate, that we should follow their hate.”

  • MerrySkeptic@sh.itjust.works
    80·
    2 months ago

    These are amazing parents. Protecting the legacy of their son, making sure it is never used to further a hateful agenda, even though I’m sure they are going to get hate back from all the MAGA cultists.

  • Lets_Eat_Grandma@lemm.eeEnglish
    13·
    2 months ago

    I feel horrible for the guy and his family. They’ve already weathered a real tragedy, now they get to weather another one that is completely unnecessary and avoidable.

    Accidents happen. Spewing hate doesn’t have to.

  • xmunk@sh.itjust.works
    74·
    2 months ago

    This is absolutely a case where you should watch the actual video - it’s very emotive and clearly a response to deep anguish over his child being used as a political pawn… it’s also quite impressive that he’s standing up to this when most people would probably fall into reveling in calls for retribution.

    • Snot Flickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      57·
      2 months ago

      it’s also quite impressive that he’s standing up to this when most people would probably fall into reveling in calls for retribution.

      It makes me filled with rage that he has to do this at all. It’s impressive how strong he is, but god damn it, he shouldn’t have to be putting his strength toward this. Let the man fucking grieve in peace, it makes me ill what they’ve done to him.