Springfield Mayor Uses Emergency Powers to Address Threats from Trump’s Claims

The mayor of Springfield, Ohio, declared a state of temporary “emergency powers” on Thursday in response to rising threats of violence linked to false accusations regarding 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,” stated Mayor Rob Rue. “Our commitment to preventing harm is unwavering.”

Over the past two weeks, the small city has faced multiple bomb threats directed at schools, government buildings, and residences, resulting in evacuations and closures.

This wave of political unrest has coincided with former President Donald Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, promoting unfounded narratives that immigrants in the area were involved in abductions and were “eating” residents’ pets to bolster their anti-immigration agenda.

Local and state officials, including Governor Mike DeWine, have confirmed that these claims regarding pets are baseless; however, the city continues to experience an uptick in threats.

The mayor’s proclamation empowers him to “take command” of the Springfield police and other resources to tackle ongoing safety concerns.

According to the city’s bylaws, the mayor has the authority to determine what constitutes a public emergency or danger. Following this proclamation, Mayor Rue can oversee city governance temporarily.

“This will enable departments to respond more efficiently to emerging risks, including civil unrest, cyber threats, and potential acts of violence,” the proclamation articulates.

The duration of this proclamation is contingent upon the cessation of public safety threats.

In recent years, Springfield has welcomed a growing number of Haitian immigrants, who have been afforded temporary protected status due to Haiti’s ongoing violent political crisis.

Despite this, both Trump and Vance have labeled these individuals “illegal” and pointed to Springfield as an example of a city supposedly suffering as a result of increased immigrant populations.

This issue became particularly prominent during the second presidential debate when Trump claimed to have seen reports of immigrants “eating” pets.

In the lead-up to the debate, Vance shared these false claims on social media, insisting that reports from his constituents necessitated the affirmation, although he conceded that these reports do not validate the truth of his statements.

Officials have begun reallocating resources to Springfield amid the growing number of threats. Governor DeWine announced on Monday that he would deploy state troopers to schools targeted by bomb threats.

Both DeWine and Rue have acknowledged that resources in the city are currently “stretched.”

Trump has expressed interest in visiting Springfield; however, city officials have cautioned that doing so would place additional strain on a community already working tirelessly to address security threats.