Springfield cancels CultureFest

[struggle4progress]

The city of Springfield canceled its upcoming CultureFest "in light of recent threats and safety concerns," the city announced Monday.

The event, a yearly "celebration of unity through diversity," would have been held Sept. 27 and 28 in downtown Springfield. City officials consulted with local and state law enforcement and decided canceling the event is "the most responsible course of action," a city spokesperson wrote in a Facebook post.

“We deeply regret having to cancel CultureFest, as we know it is a beloved event for our community,” City Manager Bryan Heck said in the post. “However, the safety of our residents and visitors must come first.”

Multiple schools, a city building and county agencies in Springfield were evacuated last week due to bomb threats that occurred after multiple prominent conservative figures, including former President Donald Trump and his running mate Sen JD Vance, spread debunked claims that Haitian immigrants in the community were eating pets and wildlife ...

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2024/09/16/springfield-ohio-culturefest-canceled-threats-safety-concerns-haitian-immigrants/75246731007/

[struggle4progress]

1. Arizona GOP's continued smear of Haitian immigrants

In Springfield, Ohio, the schools have gone on lockdown due to national anger that exploded last week — fueled by a former president who is doubling down on debunked claims that Haitian immigrants are eating people’s pets.

Two elementary schools were evacuated and a middle school was closed on Friday after a bomb threat.

Meanwhile in Arizona, the state Republican Party was putting up billboards around Phoenix, urging people to “Eat Less Kittens. Vote Republican” ,,,

... the Arizona Republican Party has been busy all weekend, feeding the frenzy — tripling and quadrupling down on what amounts to a false rumor that Haitian immigrants are barbecuing Buster.

Delighted state GOP officials are stoking America’s anger all over social media, with repost after seething repost of pet eating claims, along with memes of dogs and cats dressed for combat ...

https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/2024/09/16/springfield-ohio-pets-trump-arizona-gop-attack/75239474007/

[RidinWithHarris]

2. That really sucks

I realize they have to make safety a top priority, but I also hate letting bullies get their way.

[struggle4progress]

3. Colleges in Springfield move to online instruction

University and college campuses in Springfield, Ohio, canceled activities and moved to remote instruction on Sunday after receiving threats of violence tied to false claims about the city's Haitian immigrants.

Wittenberg University canceled all sporting events and other activities on Sunday and said classes will be remote on Monday. Clark State College also canceled activities, closed all its campuses, and will conduct instruction virtually for the week ...

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/09/16/ohio-colleges-haitian-threats-trump/75243429007/

[brewens]

4. The only way to even think about it would be to have massive police presence to enforce the law

with right-wing protestors like they did to BLM. They made every effort to incite violence and escalate things. That would probably be unacceptable because they would be white.

[pfitz59]

5. All because one orange turd

spewed a torrent of shit.

[struggle4progress]

6. FBI examining threats targeting Haitians

... "The FBI is working in coordination with the Springfield police department and Wittenberg University to determine the credibility of recent threats, share information, and take appropriate investigative action," the FBI's Cincinnati field office said in a statement Sunday, per Reuters ...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/fbi-examining-threats-targeting-haitians-at-springfield-ohio-college/ar-AA1qDbsm

[struggle4progress]

7. Mayor cautions that words can harm

... The town has faced "three consecutive days of threats," Mayor Rob Rue told CNN Sunday.

Threats to city buildings and schools have prompted evacuations.
"It would be helpful if they understood the weight of their words and how they could harm a community like ours," Rue said when questioned by CNN's Dana Bash about Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) repeatedly amplifying the rumors despite threats to the town ...

https://www.axios.com/2024/09/15/sunday-snapshot-jd-vance-springfield-ohio-abortion

[struggle4progress]

8. Congressman Calls on JD Vance To Resign

... Casey Weinstein has called for Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance to resign as fellow Ohio senator after he spread unfounded rumors ...

In the wake of JD Vance admitting he 'created' the pet-eating story, and as a result of the very real threats the communities and people he has targeted are now under... I am calling on him to RESIGN as our Senator" ...

His opinion was echoed by Ohio representative Michele Grim, who wrote ..., "Here's our state's junior Senator bragging about terrorizing Ohioans with malicious lies in order to change the subject in the national election he's losing" ...

https://www.newsweek.com/ohio-senator-casey-weinstein-calls-jd-vance-resign-1954318

[JustAnotherGen]

9. That's just sad

Something beautiful that brings people together - Trump/Vance/GOP killed.

[bahboo]

10. mission accomplished.....assholes....