For the second consecutive day, bomb threats forced the closure of schools and public buildings in Springfield, Ohio. On Friday, elementary schools Perrin Woods and Snowhill were evacuated, and Roosevelt Middle School was closed due to email threats targeting city commissioners and municipal employees. These closures followed a string of similar bomb threats on Thursday, all of which local police and the FBI are actively investigating.
The city has found itself thrust into the national spotlight due to a series of false claims about its Haitian immigrant community, which former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance have amplified. The baseless rumors, including allegations that Haitian immigrants have been stealing and eating pets, have been repeatedly debunked by city officials. Despite this, the narrative has spread, with Trump using Springfield as an example to highlight his anti-immigration stance.
Springfield’s Mayor, Rob Rue, and other local leaders are urging an end to the dangerous misinformation, which they say is causing unnecessary fear and division in the community. “We need help, not misinformation,” Rue said in a statement. He expressed concern that inflammatory rhetoric from political figures is contributing to the escalation of fear and violence in the town.
In addition to bomb threats, reports of vandalism and fear among Springfield’s Haitian population have increased as anti-immigrant rhetoric has intensified. Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted also sparked controversy by posting a joke on social media referencing the false claims about Haitian immigrants, drawing criticism for making light of the situation.
As Springfield continues to manage the influx of Haitian immigrants, with estimates of 15,000 to 20,000 arrivals in recent years, local resources have been stretched thin. While state officials, including Governor Mike DeWine, have offered financial support and additional law enforcement resources, the city faces ongoing challenges.
Local leaders and residents are now calling for calm and an end to the baseless claims that are putting their community at risk. Experts warn that the spread of such conspiracy theories can fuel real-world violence, as seen in other racially motivated attacks across the U.S. in recent years.
