Springfield, Ohio, has canceled its annual CultureFest, an event which celebrates the community’s diversity, as tensions escalate in the area amid recent allegations against the city’s Haitian migrant population. Local officials cited ongoing bomb threats and an increasingly polarized political climate as the reasons for this year’s cancellation.
This decision comes in the wake of unconfirmed claims, amplified by former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, that Haitian migrants in the area have been killing and eating the pets of other residents.
Both Trump and Vance have referred to testimonials from locals, however, Springfield city officials and law enforcement have denied reports of any such incidents actually occurring.
The city has experienced an influx of approximately 20,000 Haitian migrants since 2020. Following Trump’s remarks during a recent presidential debate, tensions have escalated, with multiple bomb threats targeting government buildings and schools. On Monday, Sept. 16, two elementary schools were evacuated after receiving bomb threats, and a pair of local colleges were also forced to close due to similar violent threats.
Meanwhile, Trump is reportedly planning a visit to Springfield. His campaign team is currently said to be in active discussions to arrange the visit, although the exact timing has not yet been confirmed.
