You will hear that once a while from several people in the media. I wouldn’t give much attention to them. If anything they represent the more extreme and every society will have a few of those. Like in the USA there are still members of the KKK and they make it clear they exist as they march in some parades every single year. As long they don’t make it into power, it matters very little what they think. Freedom of speech does allows them to say whatever, but you’re also free to not listen to them.
Also, several owners if real estate projects would often try to demerit another project by saying things like “to get there you will have to drive through ugly areas full of Haitians.” Even the driver would wonder around and then note if he saw many Haitians or “pueblo de haitianos, un batey” in the immediate area. He made it very clear any property near Haitians was not a good option. In another day this time at a beach in PP a young Haitian approached to let us know how much it was to sit on the chaise lounges and the driver seem to be annoyed by him to the point that he took over the conversation with the Haitian and was speaking to in a condescending manner.
I find many of the Haitians in the DR have a subservient attitude. At least with me many avoided eye contact while that wasn’t a problem with Dominicans. I could be walking in a straight line and if there were Haitians standing in the way, they would automatically move rather than wait for me to ask them not. It seem they would take an order if I was to give it to them. They might be more assertive among themselves, but they came through as very meek when it was interacting with me.
On the other hand, when in downtown PP there was a cruiseship in port and it appeared everyone and their mother descended on the town. There is a difference when I’m in the DR vs in the US. Mostly, in the DR I don’t get much attention unless I’m talking to someone, but when Americans are around there is a very notable increase of looks, stares, laughs, the usual signs of thinking they know something when they don’t. Needless to say was very glad when it was time to get out of there since it simply stops or greatly reduces. And this only happens with Americans, not even with Europeans (those from Spain are the most friendly once they hear the Spanish name or the accent.) Usually this difference starts as soon as arrive to the USA as it starts right at the airport once getting out of the airplane. Don’t need any signs to let me know I arrived in the USA, I’m reminded by the way many people react while 3 hours before in the DR that wasn’t the case for the most part.
That’s basically the gist of this. With Dominicans never made to feel as sticking out dedpite not looking like most Dominicans, with Americans it’s usually the opposite and with Haitians it feels as if they are there to follow orders.