Life goes on in Ohio after Trump falsely accused Haitians of eating pets

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (AP) — Your town has been in the eye of a political storm since former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, falsely accused legal Haitian immigrants in Springfield of eating dogs and cats.

One result was a series of fake bomb threats that led to the evacuation and closure of schools, government buildings, and the homes of elected officials.

But immigrants and their neighbors in this predominantly white, working-class city of about 60,000 have continued to live their lives – jogging through the city center, playing basketball with friends, or meeting with family for dinner at a market hall called “The Market.”

Some out-of-towners who want to show their support for the Haitians join locals at the Rose Goute Creole Restaurant, which serves Haitian cuisine.

Undeterred by widespread political rancor, lifelong Springfield residents Kelsey Fannon and Kassidy Fannon sat happily on their porch Monday night, playing with their new puppy and rejoicing in the fact that they had spent the day thoroughly cleaning their entire house.

Thousands of Haitian immigrants have settled in Springfield in recent years, finding work in factories and warehouses where vacancies were hard to fill. The sudden influx strained schools, health facilities and municipal services and drove up housing costs – but the mayor, community leaders and local pastors welcomed them.