Athletes of Haitian descent condemn President Donald Trump's remarks

Athletes of Haitian descent took issue with reported comments Thursday by President Donald Trump, who used a coarse vulgarity to refer to Haiti, El Salvador and African nationsl when asked about immigration issues.

Trump asked during an Oval Office meeting with lawmakers, “Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?”

Trump was referring to immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and African countries, and reportedly singled singled out Haiti. “Why do we need more Haitians?” Trump reportedly said, while insisting that they be omitted from any bipartisan immigration deal. “Take them out.”

Forty-Niners wide receiver Pierre Garcon asked his social media followers to “let me know how you feel.”

He retweeted another post that noted the next day (Friday) would be the eighth anniversary of a devastating earthquake in Haiti, one that killed tens of thousands of people in the Caribbean nation.

Garcon, who was born and raised in the United States but whose immediate family is Haitian, created a charitable ?foundation called Helping Hands to “bring enduring education, health and community programs to the people of Haiti.”

On Thursday, he posted a video clip from that evening of CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, who went to Haiti to report on the 2010 earthquake and told viewers with emotion, “I’ve never met a Haitian who isn’t strong. … Haitians slap your hand hard when they shake it. They look you in the eye, they don’t blink. They stand tall, and they have dignity.

“It’s a dignity many in this White House could learn from,” Cooper continued. “It’s a dignity the president, with all his money and all his power, could learn from, as well.”

Another athlete who tweeted out the Cooper video was 49ers defensive end Leger Douzable, whose father was born in Haiti and who, like Garcon, has traveled to the country to provide help in the wake of natural disasters such as Hurricane Matthew in 2016.

Garcon also posted praise for former NBA player Olden Polynice, who was born in Haiti’s capital of Port-au-Prince.

“Olden you are our hero we will keep carrying your fight,” Garcon said on Twitter. “You inspired us. It’s our job to keep moving forward. You did your part.”

Garcon was replying to a tweet Polynice posted in which the ex-center said, “I’ve been fighting this fight for over 30 years … it continues.”

That was in response to another user’s Twitter post in which Polynice and other athletes of Haitian descent were advised, “Please DON’T stick to sports. As athletes sharing my Haitian bloodlines please use your platforms to denounce the racism and bigotry of our so-called president.”

Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril, whose parents immigrated from Haiti and whose charitable foundation aims in part to “provide educational support and opportunities to youth in Haiti,” reacted to tweets about Trump’s comments by Britt McHenry.

The former ESPN reporter, who has become a conservative media figure, had said, “Let’s be real, people: 38,000 Haitian people live in make-shift camps. US Department of State assessed Port-au-Prince as a ‘critical-threat’ location for crimes towards Americans. High crime rate.

“But, by all means, harp on Trump’s description & not the actual problems,” McHenry added.

“Have you actually been there?” Avril replied. “Propaganda at its finest!”

Avril retweeted another Twitter user’s comments that Haiti is a “constitutional republic in the Caribbean that fought for its independence (and won) and ended slavery a full 60 years before we did,” and that the country has “an amazing history full of wonderful people who we should have compassion and respect for.”

The Seattle player, who last year made good on a promise to build a house in Haiti for each of the 12 sacks he notched in 2016, said of immigrants to America, “Haitians are part of the people that came to the country to help make it great!”