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SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Bomb threats have paralyzed Springfield, Ohio after Donald Trump ignited a wave of fear with baseless, racist claims about Haitian immigrants—allegations that are now fueling extremist violence and threatening the lives of local residents.
The former president used his national platform at last Tuesday’s debate to spread racist lies about Haitian immigrants in the city, claiming they are abducting and eating pets.
“They’re eating the dogs; they’re eating the cats,” an erratic Trump said after referencing the town. “They’re eating the pets of the people that live there.”
Debate moderator David Muir was quick to rebut Trump’s claims. Muir noted that officials in Springfield, home to just under 60,000 people, said there is no evidence to support the rumor. When asked where he was receiving his information, Trump said he ‘heard it on TV’.
The fictitious and racist claims first appeared on a social media site known as Gab. According to NBC News, multiple right-wing conspiracy theorists and neo-Nazis began spreading the lies in August. Around the same time, masked extremists held an anti-Haitian immigrant march in the small town.
Trump’s running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, was asked about the former president’s comments after the debate. Vance egged the rumors on, telling his supporters to “keep the cat memes flowing”.
Vance even added to the spread of racist lies targeting Haitian immigrants, claiming there has been a “massive rise in communicable diseases” in the city. The county health commissioner responded by saying, aside from COVID-19, the spread of communicable diseases in the county is at its lowest point since 2016.
Springfield residents fear for their safety amid threats of violence from extremist groups after Trump’s comments
In the days since, residents of Springfield have endured ongoing threats of violence against the city – specifically targeted at the Haitian immigrant community.
Bomb threats closed schools and government offices Thursday and Friday. Some elementary school students even had to be evacuated and bussed to safety in neighboring districts.
In addition to buildings, several county and city employees were also specifically targeted.
Threats of violence against schools and communities are rising as far-right politicians use their platforms to push conspiracy theories.
In August 2023, several schools in Tulsa, Oklahoma also faced bomb threats following online attacks from State Superintendent Ryan Walters.
Walters amplified false claims and doctored video first pushed in a post by the extremist group “Libs of TikTok”. The altered video in the post specifically attacked elementary school librarian. After Walters shared the original post, death and bomb threats poured in to that teacher, her school, and the larger district; prompting closures and evacuations.
Much like Walters last August, Trump and Vance also now refuse to retract their statements or apologize for their remarks.
Haitian immigrants in the city have reported feeling concerned for their safety, fearing increased threats of violence.
President Biden weighed in on the situation Friday, saying “it is simply wrong that the proud Haitian community is under attack right now in this country.”
“There’s no place [for hate] in America,” the current president continued. “This has to stop – what [Trump’s] doing. It has to stop.”
Mr Trump should have put the message in context. Even a lie has context. Despite many walking across the border , the Haitians were granted a legal status. Now the lie would not be so blatantly racist. A myth morphs into a lies. And then threatens life. No wonder there have two attempts on the life of Trump.