Ohio colleges move to remote learning after threats of violence linked to false claims about Haitian immigrants

Ohio: Springfield, Ohio, university and college campuses canceled events and switched to remote teaching on Sunday in response to threats of violence linked to false allegations against the city’s Haitian immigrants.

Wittenberg University announced on Sunday that it would be holding remote courses on Monday and canceled all athletic events and other activities. In addition, Clark State College shuttered all of its campuses, canceled events, and decided to conduct instruction electronically for the duration of the week.

Following many threats against government buildings, hospitals, schools, and other establishments, the two schools are the most recent victims. After former President Donald Trump and his running partner, Senator JD Vance, started spreading false information about immigrants in the city kidnapping and consuming pets, Springfield found itself in the national limelight.

Wittenberg authorities said on the school’s website on Sunday, “University administrators recognize that the city of Springfield has experienced an increase in threats to local government, businesses, and schools in the past week.” “We take this threat seriously and will provide updates to the campus as we learn more about the situation.”

After receiving bomb threats and threatening calls, three elementary schools were evacuated, a middle school was shuttered, and the city hall was closed for the last week. Two local hospitals were placed on lockdown on Saturday due to bomb threats.

The fraudulent accusations have been widely criticized by state and local leaders, including Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, who on Sunday referred to the allegations as “a piece of garbage.” Due to the threats, Haitian immigrants have voiced anxiety and that they no longer feel secure in the neighborhood.

Shootings and bomb threats occur on Springfield campuses.

Events were canceled, according to officials, after Wittenberg University received a threat via email on Saturday indicating a planned shooting on campus.

Authorities said that at 1 p.m. on Sunday, a second email threat mentioned a bomb in a red Honda Civic. The Wittenberg campus is divided by Bill Edwards Drive, and police retrieved a vehicle that matched the description from there, but they reported finding nothing odd.

In order to look into the threats, Wittenberg police said on Sunday that they will be stepping up campus patrols in collaboration with Springfield police and the FBI.

In order to “exercise extreme precaution,” be aware of their surroundings, and report suspicious activities to Wittenberg police, the university asked its academics, staff, and students.

“All Wittenberg classes will be remote tomorrow, Monday, September 16 as the university continues to assess these threats in partnership with the Springfield Police Department (SPD) and FBI,” Wittenberg officials said in a Sunday night statement. “Aside from necessary personnel, faculty and staff are also required to work remotely. Tomorrow will see the cancellation of all sporting events as well as other activities.”

On Sunday, Clark State College made the announcement that all of its campuses, including the Springfield facility, would switch from on-site sessions to online virtual classrooms from Monday through Friday. With reference to “recent events in Springfield,” Clark State said that the school was “taking proactive measures to ensure the well-being of all students, faculty, and staff.”

The institution claimed in a press statement that it received a threat via email late on Saturday, citing probable gun violence via the admissions link on its website. An email threatening to blow up the Springfield campus was sent to the institution on Sunday.

According to Clark State, it contacted Springfield police right away to make sure the campus was safe and secure. However, the institution said that, “out of an abundance of caution,” all of its campuses would be closed for the week and that staff members should work from home. Additionally, all events were postponed.

The institution said on its website, “We understand the anxiety that such incidents can cause and we are treating this matter with the utmost seriousness and care.” “As a proactive measure, Springfield police will also increase their security presence on campus, and we are working with our wellness team and partners to provide additional counseling services.”

Following the presidential debate, threats against Springfield institutions skyrocketed.

During Tuesday’s presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump repeated his fabrications about the alleged consumption of cats and dogs by Haitian immigrants residing in Springfield. Trump also said that over 20,000 of the city’s Haitians are in the nation illegally, despite the fact that the majority entered the country under the federal government’s Temporary Protected Status program, having fled gang violence and economic hardship in their own country.

In a Sunday Media report interview, Vance said that he has been circulating misinformation. He said, “I’m going to create stories if that’s what it takes to get the American media to actually pay attention to the suffering of the American people.”

DeWine termed the dangers to public safety posed by the approximately 15,000 Haitians state authorities believe are in the city “a very sad thing.” Last week, DeWine offered at least $2.5 million in state assistance to assist Springfield officials with health care access and traffic safety.

The dissemination of false information, according to Springfield City Manager Bryan Heck, is “disappointing.” He said that the city has not received any reliable allegations of dogs being mistreated, damaged, or hurt by members of the Haitian immigrant population.

Following their son’s murder in a traffic accident last year that an immigrant from Haiti caused, the 11-year-old boy’s parents alleged this week that an “incessant group of hate-spewing people” were using their son’s tragedy for political advantage. Employers that were having trouble filling positions invited many of the Haitian immigrants to Springfield, and these immigrants have reported feeling more intimidated and harassed.