Impact of Trump’s Remarks on Haitian Immigrants – Hollywood Life

Donald Trumprepeated a baseless and sensationalist claim during Tuesday’s presidential debate that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were allegedly eating dogs and other pets.

Trump’s comments have given intolerant people a clear target and exacerbated existing hostility. The claims about Haitian immigrants first spread online in August on platforms used by far-right extremists and the neo-Nazi hate group Blood Tribe. “The president is talking about it now,” wrote one Blood Tribe member on Gab, a social network popular with the far right. “This is what real power looks like.”

Maria Bruno of Ohioans Against Extremism, a nonprofit founded last month in part because of the rising number of extremists in Ohio, said, “They are excited that there are politicians willing to repeat their arguments.”

So the residents of Springfield are concerned that Republican candidates continue to insist on these false claims and encourage extremists.

Bomb threats

The unfounded rumors have understandably left Springfield residents fearful of violence and discrimination. On Friday – just three days after the presidential debate – bomb threats led to the evacuation and closure of public schools and city buildings for the second day in a row.

Students at Perrin Woods and Snowhill elementary schools in Springfield “were evacuated from their buildings to another location in the school district,” a school district spokesman said. Jenna LeinasarsRoosevelt Middle School was “closed before the start of the school day,” according to Springfield police, Leinasars added.

In addition to the school evacuations, several city commissioners and a city employee were the target of an emailed bomb threat, a city spokesman said. Karen Graves. A second email threatened several 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 to “determine the origin of these email threats,” the city official added.

On Saturday, nearby Wittenberg University canceled all campus activities for the following day after there were threats of a shooting against the Haitian community.

Governor of Ohio and Mayor of Springfield respond to false claims

In response to the recent influx of around 15,000 Haitians, the Governor of Ohio Mike DeWine (R) plans to send additional police forces to Springfield and provide $2.5 million for health care.

In an interview with NPR Morning editionDeWine said there was “no credible evidence” to support stories about Haitian migrants eating pets.

“If you talk to the people, especially those who work with the Haitians, they will tell you they work very hard,” DeWine said. “Recently, one of us said, ‘I wish I had 100 more people working for me.’ Look, these are good people. The people in Springfield are good people.”

Mayor of Springfield Robert Rue reiterated this opinion in an appearance on MSNBC’s Katy Tur reports on Friday. “Springfield is a beautiful community and your pets are safe in Springfield, Ohio,” Rue said. “We have made this public and ask that people understand and believe the reports we share with them,” Rue added.

The mayor also called for an end to disinformation. “We need to make those with a national platform and millions of followers understand the impact their words have on cities like Springfield, Ohio,” Rue said. “What we need is help, not this disinformation.”