Hoax threats/ false claims/ Haitian community safety/ foreign actors/ bomb scare./ Newslooks/ Springfield, Ohio, has been dealing with a wave of bomb threats, mostly from overseas, after false claims by Donald Trump and J.D. Vance about Haitian immigrants eating pets. State police were deployed to protect schools, though many parents chose to keep their children at home. Local officials are urging national leaders to stop spreading misinformation.
Misinformation and Bomb Threats in Springfield: Quick Looks
- False Claims: Trump and Vance falsely alleged that Haitian immigrants in Springfield were eating pets.
- Bomb Threats: Over 30 hoax threats targeted schools and government buildings, causing evacuations and closures.
- Police Response: Ohio State Highway Patrol officers were deployed to 18 Springfield schools for student safety.
- Foreign Involvement: Officials linked most of the bomb threats to foreign actors but did not name the responsible country.
- Community Impact: Local schools and services are under strain due to the sudden influx of Haitian immigrants.
Bomb Threats in Ohio Linked to Overseas Actors After False Claims by Trump, Vance
Deep Look:
The city of Springfield, Ohio, has been gripped by a series of bomb threats in the wake of a recent controversy involving former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance. The duo falsely claimed during a public debate that Haitian immigrants in the city were eating pets, a statement that has since been debunked but sparked widespread fear and disruption in the community.
Ohio officials, including Governor Mike DeWine, have been quick to respond by dispatching state police to Springfield’s schools after more than 30 hoax threats were made against schools, government buildings, and officials’ homes. Most of these threats, according to state authorities, originated from overseas. The threats led to evacuations and school closures, creating a sense of unease among residents. Two more schools had to be evacuated on Monday, followed by a threat to the local high school on Tuesday.
Governor DeWine, speaking at a press conference alongside Springfield school officials, confirmed that foreign actors were largely responsible for the threats, though he declined to name any specific country. “We do not believe there is a real threat out there, but we are certainly not going to take any chances,” he said, emphasizing that the Ohio State Highway Patrol would continue to guard the city’s 18 schools as long as necessary. Despite the added security measures, many parents opted to keep their children home. At one elementary school, 200 of the 500 students were absent on Tuesday due to safety concerns.
Springfield is a small, predominantly white, blue-collar city of about 60,000 people, located roughly 45 miles from Ohio’s capital, Columbus. In recent years, the city has seen a significant influx of Haitian immigrants who have filled much-needed roles in the region’s factories and warehouses. This rapid demographic shift has strained local resources, including schools and healthcare services, and driven up housing costs.
However, the situation took a political turn when Trump and Vance seized upon false internet rumors about Haitian immigrants consuming dogs and cats. These claims were amplified during last week’s presidential debate, sparking a backlash that has now included bomb threats and increased security measures. Trump and Vance’s rhetoric appears to have fueled the frenzy, even though no evidence supports the accusations.
Springfield Mayor Rob Rue acknowledged the rising tension and called for national leaders to adopt a more measured tone. Without naming Trump or Vance directly, Rue urged for calm and accuracy, saying, “We did not have threats seven days ago. We did not have these concerns seven days ago. We did not have these hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars spent in Springfield and from the state of Ohio in support seven days ago. We do today.” Rue added that Springfield needs “peace” and “help, not hate.”
Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris weighed in during a forum for Black journalists in Philadelphia. She expressed sympathy for Springfield, criticizing the inflammatory rhetoric surrounding Haitian immigrants. “The inflammatory rhetoric about Haitian immigrants is exhausting, it’s harmful, it’s hateful, and it’s grounded in some age-old stuff that we should not have the tolerance for,” she said.
Despite widespread condemnation, Senator J.D. Vance has refused to back down from his comments. In a post on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Vance claimed that local residents had raised legitimate concerns about the Haitian community in Springfield and that his comments had been misrepresented. He reiterated his opposition to the threats but continued to defend his stance on the issue, accusing Vice President Harris of dismissing the real concerns of Ohioans.
The investigation into the bomb threats is ongoing. Dan Tierney, a spokesperson for Governor DeWine, revealed that investigators from multiple law enforcement agencies had traced the threats to foreign countries. While officials believe these foreign actors were primarily responsible, they have remained tight-lipped on the specifics, noting that naming the country involved could inspire further threats.
“These are largely foreign actors, not folks in the community or another part of the United States,” Tierney explained. The investigation’s findings, he added, should reassure residents that their children are not in real danger, though the heightened police presence will remain to ensure parents feel secure sending their children to school.
With the false claims and subsequent threats causing continued disruption in Springfield, city officials are pleading for calm and a return to normalcy. As the community grapples with the fallout from the political rhetoric and the real-life consequences of misinformation, Springfield faces a difficult road ahead.
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