More than 30 bomb threats made in Springfield, Ohio, after false pets claims
NBCSEP 20 2024
In the face of continuing threats to institutions in the city of Springfield, Ohio, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine on Monday announced he's increasing security there, including sending three dozen state troopers to protect the schools.
The city has been targeted, DeWine said, by a "series of unfounded bomb threats" — many from "overseas" — in the days since former Pres. Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, amplified false claims about Haitian immigrants stealing and eating pets in Springfield.
Trump first mentioned the baseless rumor during the presidential debate with VP Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, Sept. 10. At least 33 bomb threats have targeted the city's schools since then, and several schools have needed to be evacuated.
Because of these false smears, children in Springfield have to go to school scared while armed guards walk the halls and campuses. Trump and Vance could've spoken out to reduce the number of threats, but instead they've continued using hateful rhetoric against the immigrants — with Vance even admitting he may have fabricated the pet-eating story to draw attention to an issue. This is unacceptable for people who want to serve in the highest offices in the land.
It was easy at th.e outset for Democrats and their allies in the media to blame Trump and Vance for some alleged threats of violence, but that narrative is crumbling now that DeWine has revealed most of the threats have been hoaxes called in from overseas. Now that the lies about threats have been debunked, it's time to focus on the immigrant invasion that's destroying cities like Springfield since the Biden-Harris administration has left the US borders open