The Springfield City School District in Ohio closed Roosevelt Middle School and evacuated two elementary schools on Friday, following the spread of unfounded conspiracy theories about immigrants amplified by former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator JD Vance (R).
Elementary school students were relocated after directives from the Springfield Police Division. The Springfield News-Sun reported that students were being released to their parents after the evacuation. The closures come a day after a bomb threat targeting Springfield City Hall and other locations, including schools, used hateful language against the city’s immigrant population.
These incidents follow Trump’s remarks during a Philadelphia debate and subsequent Arizona rally, where he falsely claimed that Haitian migrants in Springfield were eating pets. Despite Trump’s comments, local officials, including Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R) and Springfield Mayor Rob Rue, have denied the allegations. Both have defended the city’s immigrant community, with DeWine stating that migrants have contributed positively to Springfield’s workforce.
Rue expressed concern that Trump’s false narratives have cast a “negative light” on the city, while acknowledging that the community is grappling with infrastructure strains due to the increasing immigrant population. DeWine announced state support for health care and public safety in Clark County, home to Springfield, and criticized the lack of federal assistance.
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