The mayor of Springfield, Ohio, issued a proclamation Thursday giving himself temporary “emergency powers” as the city faces multiple threats of violence following false claims about Haitian immigrants in the community.
“We are addressing these threats with the seriousness they warrant and are taking immediate steps to ensure the security of both our community and our employees,” Mayor Rob Rue said in a statement. “Our commitment to preventing harm is unwavering.”
For the last two weeks, the small Ohio city has been hit with multiple bomb threats on schools, government buildings and residences, forcing evacuations and closures.
The political turmoil arrives after former president Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance amplified false claims that immigrants in Springfield were abducting and “eating” people’s pets as a way to promote their anti-immigration policies.