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Donald Trump<\/strong><\/a>, during Tuesday\u2019s presidential debate<\/a>, repeated a baseless and sensationalist claim about Haitian immigrants in Ohio allegedly eating dogs and other pets.<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s remarks have provided intolerant individuals with a clear target and intensified existing animosity. The claims about Haitian immigrants were initially spread online in August on platforms used by far-right extremists and by Blood Tribe<\/a>, a neo-Nazi hate group.<\/p>\n \u201cThe president is talking about it now,\u201d one member of Blood Tribe wrote on Gab, a social network popular with the far right. \u201cThis is what real power looks like.\u201d<\/p>\n Maria Bruno<\/strong> of Ohioans Against Extremism, a non-profit founded last month in part due to the rising presence of extremists in Ohio, said, \u201cThey are thrilled that there are politicians willing to echo their talking points.\u201d<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how residents of Springfield have been affected as the Republican candidates continue to double down on these false claims and embolden extremists.<\/p>\n The baseless rumors have left Springfield residents understandably fearful of violence and discrimination. By Friday\u2014just three days after the presidential debate\u2014bomb threats had led to the evacuation and closure of public schools and municipal buildings for a second consecutive day.<\/p>\n Students at Perrin Woods and Snowhill Elementary Schools in Springfield \u201cwere evacuated from their buildings to an alternate district location,\u201d said school district spokesperson Jenna Leinasars<\/strong>. Roosevelt Middle School was \u201cclosed prior to the beginning of the school day\u201d based on information from the Springfield Police Department, Leinasars added.<\/p>\n In addition to the school evacuations, several city commissioners and a municipal employee were targeted by an emailed bomb threat, according to city spokesperson Karen Graves<\/strong>. A second email threatened multiple locations, including Springfield City Hall, Cliff Park High School, Perrin Woods Elementary School, Roosevelt Middle School, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and the Ohio License Bureau Southside, Graves said. Local police and FBI agents in Dayton are working \u201cto determine the origin of these email threats,\u201d the city official added.<\/p>\n On Saturday, nearby Wittenberg University canceled all on-campus activities for the following day after receiving a threat of a potential shooting targeting the Haitian community.<\/p>\n In response to the recent influx of around 15,000 Haitians, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine<\/strong> (R) plans to send additional law enforcement to Springfield and allocate $2.5 million in health care aid.<\/p>\n In an interview on NPR\u2019s Morning Edition<\/em><\/a>, DeWine stated that the stories about Haitian migrants eating pets have \u201cno credible evidence.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you talk to people, particularly those working with the Haitians, they will tell you that they are very hard workers,\u201d DeWine said. \u201cWe had one person recently say, \u2018I wish I had 100 more working for me.\u2019 Look, these are good people. The people in Springfield are good people.\u201d<\/p>\n Springfield Mayor Rob Rue<\/strong> echoed this sentiment in an appearance on MSNBC\u2019s Katy Tur Reports<\/em><\/a> on Friday. \u201cSpringfield is a beautiful community, and your pets are safe in Springfield, Ohio,\u201d Rue said. \u201cWe\u2019ve made that known publicly, and we\u2019re asking people to understand and believe the reports that we\u2019re sharing with them,\u201d Rue added.<\/p>\n The mayor also called for an end to the misinformation. \u201cWe need those with a national platform and millions of followers to understand the impact their words have on cities like Springfield, Ohio,\u201d Rue said. \u201cWhat we need is help, not this misinformation.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\t<\/div>\nBomb Threats<\/h2>\n
Ohio Governor and Springfield Mayor Address False Claims<\/h2>\n