Springfield Mayor Assumes Emergency Powers as Threats Pour In

The city of Springfield, Ohio, has enacted emergency powers to safeguard its community after receiving dozens of threats over alleged incidents of Haitian immigrants eating cats and wild animals in the city, gaining national attention.
“Ensuring the safety of Springfield’s residents is our top priority,” the mayor said in a statement. “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. Our commitment to preventing harm is unwavering.”
According to city officials, the national attention has raised concerns about the safety of the city’s residents and workforce. Rue said he hopes the community will stick together.
“I have no doubt that Springfield will stand together in the face of these challenges. I encourage everyone to look out for one another with care and compassion as we work to keep our community safe and strong,” the mayor said.
A spokesperson for the city’s police department didn’t immediately return a request for comment, made after regular business hours.
On Sept. 13, students at two elementary schools were evacuated and one middle school closed after the school district was emailed threats, according to a statement from the district. The day prior, a similar incident occurred at the city hall, another elementary school, and several other locations after receiving threats.
College classes at Wittenberg University and Clark State College were also held virtually this week, according to school alerts issued the following Monday.
“After receiving new threats on Monday, Sept. 16, and in the context of ongoing threats of violence on our campus and in the Springfield community, Wittenberg will go fully remote for the rest of the week,” a statement on Wittenberg’s website reads.
Clark State College said they will hold classes virtually until Friday “due to recent events in Springfield.”
DeWine said many of the threats made were unfounded and were meant to fuel tension in the city.
“We cannot let the bad guys win. … We must take every threat seriously, but children deserve to be in school, and parents deserve to know that their kids are safe,” the governor said in a statement. “The added security will help ease some of the fears caused by these hoaxes.”
Bomb detection dogs and security cameras have been stationed throughout the city, according to DeWine. He said at least 33 bomb threats were made with many of them from overseas, but didn’t name any countries.
Former President Donald Trump commented on the claims about immigrants during his second presidential debate last week, while vice presidential candidate JD Vance spoke about them on X the day before.
“There’s a recorded police call from a witness who saw immigrants capturing geese for food in Springfield. Citizens testified to City Council,” Yost wrote.
Yost alleged some media outlets have followed the words of the city and ignored such claims, yet the callers would be “competent witnesses” in court.
“Why does the media find a carefully worded City Hall press release better evidence?” Yost wrote.
In a Sept. 14 statement sent to NTD News, she said the bomb threats “have not been substantiated” and were likely made up to invoke a police response.
City Manager Bryan Heck confirmed in a recent Facebook announcement the city is facing some challenges related to the influx of immigrants, as the population growth has strained city resources, and said the area has also benefited from new residents who contribute to the workforce, including local businesses.
“These rumors will not distract us from addressing the real strain on our resources, including the impact to our schools, healthcare systems, and first responders,” Heck said.
Some 15,000 Haitians have arrived in the city of about 59,000 people since 2020.