Opinion In Springfield, I heard stories about strain, promise — and race | A struggling Rust Belt city of Haitian immigrants confronts lies from Trump and Vance.

The Washington Post ^ | September 19, 2024 at 5:25 p.m. EDT | Eugene Robinson

[E. Pluribus Unum]

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — This city is besieged by a lie. Mayor Rob Rue could not meet with me at his office because of a series of anonymous bomb threats that shut down schools, hospitals and the municipal center. One morning this week, I watched as eight police cars sped up to City Hall and officers rushed inside, investigating the latest threat; it turned out to be a false alarm, like all the others. So far.

Amid a crisis that is fundamentally about Springfield’s racial and cultural diversity, an annual celebration of that diversity called CultureFest set for later this month had to be canceled. And people I spoke with were nervous about the prospect of a visit by former president Donald Trump, who announced Wednesday that he’s coming to town.

Hasn’t Trump punished Springfield enough? He and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (Ohio), have already vandalized the city’s sense of community and common purpose. Nobody here asked for bomb threats, evacuations and cancellations. Nobody here asked to be painted in garish caricature and cynically exploited for political gain.

Springfield became a flash point when Trump, in last week’s presidential debate, blurted out a nativist and racist lie about Haitian immigrants who have settled here: “They’re eating the dogs. The people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating — they’re eating the pets of the people that live there, and this is what’s happening in our country, and it’s a shame.”

None of that is true.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

As Rue has patiently explained lied to hordes of journalists from around the world, Haitians are not eating anybody’s pets.

Fixed it.

[escapefromboston]

We would be lucky if the worst thing Haitian invaders are doing is eating some cats.

[metmom]

And the bomb threats originated from overseas.

Not legit.

The media lies 24/7. And it’s to the left’s advantage to deny any account that does not reflect favorably on the *poor migrants*.

Of course, nothing has been confirmed. Because they won’t investigate it.

[gundog]

Fake bomb threats? Who would do such a thing?

[kiryandil]

Eugene "ScumBoy" Robinson, lying racist fabulist for the mouthpiece of the Democrat Party - The Washingsnot Pest.

Democracy Dies With Democrats

[Kudsman]

Convenient

[TribalPrincess2U]

Wait til they get to the humankind!

[Responsibility2nd]

Consider: in 2010 the population of Springfield was about 60,000.

Since then some 20,000 Haitians have been moved in.

Yet today the population of Springfield is about 58,000.

So where did the 22,000 American citizens go?

My guess is they all went to Port au Prince to balance things out.

[GOPJ]

The problem isn't 'pets' or city geese. The real problem is the intentional destruction of a community.

Want to know what deportation would look like? It would look like the 'elites' of Martha's Vineyard ushering out ALL migrants in less than 24 hours.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Cats, dogs, geese and ducks are red herrings.

Is it a lie that the federal government snuck 20,000 Haitians into Springfield under cover of darkness, swelling the population by 1/3 overnight? That the citizens were not asked if they wanted 20,000 uneducated voodoo believers dumped in their town. That the city does not have the needed budget to pay all these moochers dumped on them?

Is it a lie that the federal government seeks to destroy good middle class towns?

[griswold3]

Robinsons narrative IS the lie.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

AND...is it a lie that the federal government has been dumping these third-worlders from failed states almost entirely into states that voted for Trump in 2020?

[madprof98]

Meanwhile, Vivek Ramaswamy went to Springfield today and listened to many ordinary, longstanding citizens of Springfield who are tired of being branded racists. Their city officials refused to come to the meeting.

[God luvs America]

They don’t matter to the criminal liberal media. Never have

[Dr.Deth]

Eugene “I see white people!” Robinson has been a virulently anti-white racist for the entirety of his idiotic propaganda career.

[Kudsman]

Advocate only please. I agree with your sentiment.

To the left, a "lie" may only appear to some as opinion, by some. If you could prove a goal, some may ask why? There are 3 combatants but only 2 sides. Let's roll.

[sauropod]

I don’t believe a thing Eugene Robinson writes. I’ve been watching him and his behavior for a long time.

[GOPJ]

Fake bomb threats? Who would do such a thing?

I'm guessing democrats/intelligence working with Mexican cartels and global 'elites'. Those groups are fearless because the bimbos and pretentious 'men' of places like the Washington Post, New York Times and MSNBC are all too stupid and easily played to notice that Jussie Smollett and hundreds like him are lying and playing them for fools. Smollett is far from the only fake 'victim'. The stupid press falls for all of 'em.

[Menehune56]

Well said, my FRiend.

[mass55th]

"And the bomb threats originated from overseas."

Mike DeWine, who has a soft spot for Haitians said the bomb threats came from a particular country overseas, but never bothered to identify the country. I wonder why? Nothing will be done to the perps anyway, because they're likely being paid by our government or the government of the country they're in.