Ohio Governor Mike DeWine dispatched state troops to support overwhelmed police officers due to several reported bomb threats, including in Springfield schools.
These alerts were triggered by misleading statements made by former President Donald Trump, which were heard by over 67 million viewers during the presidential debate broadcast by ABC News.
From @TheAthletic: Wittenberg University, located in Springfield, Ohio, has canceled all athletic events because of security concerns. The concerns began last week when Donald Trump spread a baseless rumor that Haitian immigrants in Springfield ate pets. https://t.co/oOT8x8yWz7
— The New York Times (@nytimes) September 17, 2024
The city of Springfield, Ohio, has reportedly received more than 30 bomb threats to date, thankfully unfounded, since Trump relayed rumors, reported by his running mate JD Vance, that local Haitian immigrants were eating local pets and geese in city parks, plunging the city into chaos and fear.
In response to these threats, which fortunately turned out to be hoaxes, DeWine stressed the importance of protecting students and announced the deployment of 36 Ohio State Highway Patrol officers to the Springfield school district, which should provide some reassurance to parents.
Enhanced security measures will include a thorough inspection of each school before students arrive, as well as a continuous presence throughout the day.
Many, however, have decided not to send their children to school…
The governor, who recently asked Trump and JD Vance to stop spreading false rumors to no avail, asserted that the children of this community, in the grip of a stressful situation, deserve to go to school, and that parents need to be reassured that their children are safe.
He also stressed the importance of taking every threat seriously, even if it turns out to be unfounded.
DeWine said that, despite the increase in threats, none of the reported incidents fortunately proved valid. The majority of the bomb threats appear to have been made by foreign actors seeking to sow chaos within the Springfield community and the United States.
The FBI and local police are working together to investigate these worrying incidents, and bomb-detecting dogs have been deployed in the area since the events began.
Since Trump and his running mate JD Vance’s controversial remarks, Springfield schools have suffered evacuations and temporary closures, as have local hospitals and municipal buildings.
Tensions within the community have been exacerbated by statements made by Trump and JD Vance, who have stepped up racist rhetoric against the region’s Haitian immigrants, calling them illegal when they are legally settled, while calling for their mass deportation if elected.
Clearly, since the unfounded allegations against its immigrants, Springfield has been living in fear.
