Two educational institutions in Springfield, Ohio, temporarily cease operations following accusations of dubious nature concerning Haitian migrants resulting in associated threats.
The occurrences are taking place in the wake of unfounded accusations made by former President Donald Trump during the second presidential debate, where he claimed that Haitian immigrants in the city were looting and consuming local pets.
Wittenberg University will conduct classes online on Monday as campus police and local authorities continue to examine emailed harassments aimed at "members of the Haitian community", the university announced in a communication.
Neighboring Clark State College declared its campuses to be shut down for the week, with classes to be held digitally, following the receipt of similar emailed intimidations. The institutions claimed they were adopting these decisions "as a precautionary measure".
"We understand the apprehension that such incidents may foster and we are treating this matter with utmost importance and sensitivity", Clark State stated. "The safety and wellbeing of our students, employees and the community remain our top priority. We value your cooperation during this testing period".
Springfield has been experiencing an upsurge of threats in recent times, with Republicans continuing to propagate the erroneous claims about Haitian immigrants in the city. Springfield officially announced the cancellation of its annual arts and cultural festival, initially set for September 27 and 28, due to recent threats and safety concerns.
Rob Rue, the city's mayor, revealed to CNN's Dana Bash that he and other officials have received personal threats, adding, "it would be helpful" for politicians "to understand the gravity of their words and how they could potentially harm a community like ours".
Springfield police reported receiving two 911 calls on Saturday to report the presence of Proud Boys members marching through the town. However, when police officers arrived at the indicated location, Lexington and South Burnett, the group was no longer there.
Two area hospitals closed their doors on Thursday following threats, and the following day, two local elementary schools were evacuated "based on information received from the Springfield Police Division".
In an interview with ABC News on Sunday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine dismissively debunked the false allegations about the city's Haitian immigrants, praising their positive contributions to the community.
Approximately 12,000 to 15,000 immigrants reside in Clark County, as per information provided on the city's website. The site reveals that Haitian immigrants are in the county legally under a parole program that permits U.S. citizens and legal residents to apply for their family members from Haiti to join them in the United States.
Officials from the Clark County Sheriff's Office also debunked the allegations that Haitians were stealing geese from local parks last week, citing an analysis of 11 months' worth of 911 records that identified only two instances of people reporting such incidents, but found no substantiation for the claims.
Vice presidential candidate JD Vance was among the first to publicize the baseless rumors about Haitians. In an interview with CNN's Dana Bash on Sunday's "State of the Union", he was challenged to present proof supporting the accusations, but he only cited numerous "firsthand" accounts reported by his constituents without providing additional evidence.
Vance also objected to the notion that propagating the baseless claims had led to an increase in threats in the city. “There is nothing I have said that has incited the threats against these hospitals. The violence is appalling, and we denounce it", he said.
“All I’ve done is amplify the concerns of my constituents, people who are facing hardship due to Kamala Harris' policies. Are we not allowed to discuss these problems because some unstable individuals are making threats?” he added.
Vance later admitted, “If I have to fabricate stories so that the American media pays attention to the struggles of the American people, then I will do”.
When Bash pressed him to clarify whether he was acknowledging that the story was fabricated, Vance reaffirmed that the allegations stemmed from his constituents.
“I did not create 20,000 undocumented migrants arriving in Springfield due to Kamala Harris' policies. Her policies attracted them", he said. “But yes, I facilitated the attention that allowed the American media to discuss this topic and the suffering caused by Kamala Harris' policies”.
Rue, the mayor, informed CNN's Erin Burnett on Thursday that Springfield's population has experienced a 25% growth over the past three years, partly due to the influx of Haitian immigrants.
Rue stated that he was working with local law enforcement to address an increase in reckless driving and requested additional funding over the next two years to bolster language services in the local healthcare system, but he rejected claims that immigrants were harming local pets and animals.
“I would like to emphatically assert, as a pet lover, that your pets are secure in Springfield, Ohio, and it is surprising that I even need to inform the national media of this, if it is indeed true”, Rue said.
CNN’s Paradise Afshar, Chris Boyette and Kit Maher contributed to this report.
Wittenberg University and its students express concern, stating, "We are deeply concerned about the safety and wellbeing of our entire community, including the US-based Haitian students and their families."
Springfield officials emphasize their commitment, stating, "As US citizens, we stand united against hate speech and actions towards any community member, and we are committed to ensuring the safety and peace of our city for everyone."
