It doesn’t matter how much the idea that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are eating dogs and cats, Donald Trump and J.D. Vance have shown no signs of letting up on pushing that hoax, even after reports of threats directed at schools and other institutions in that town.
Now, the mayor of that city has rejected an opportunity to meet with Vance, a U.S. senator from Ohio.
According to Rolling Stone, which obtained the relevant emails, Mayor Rob Rue declined a chance to meet with the vice presidential nominee on September 17, including rejecting an overture from Vance’s camp to arrange a “private call.”
“It is disheartening to see our vibrant community drawn into the national immigration debate, leading to disruptions in daily life and increased security concerns. Over the past week, schools and public offices have been closed due to threats,” the mayor, Rue, emailed Vance’s state director, James Coyne.
Springfield’s mayor to J.D. Vance: “It is disappointing that, as an Ohio native and elected official, you would speak about our community without first reaching out to me or my team to better understand the situation.”
More: https://t.co/7OMgX1RQf5 https://t.co/myrtq4E0y7 pic.twitter.com/ZpFKLg5SFP
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) September 26, 2024
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“On a personal note, it is disappointing that, as an Ohio native and elected official, you would speak about our community without first reaching out to me or my team to better understand the situation,” the mayor added.
Rue, a Springfield native, is a Republican. Following the threats earlier this month, he claimed emergency powers to deal with the crisis.
A spokeswoman for the mayor told Rolling Stone that Vance’s office wanted to include “third parties” in the call.
Ohio city’s mayor issues emergency order over false migrant rumors
Springfield mayor Rob Rue says the order will allow city officials to ‘acquire resources to address potential threats’https://t.co/ypfVcdguzN
— Mr. Fahrenheit (@mmmfiber) September 20, 2024
“We initially considered accepting the invitation to have the opportunity to honestly discuss the spotlight that has been directed on our community, after having been drawn into the national immigration debate and to discuss the residual security impacts we have faced in light of the spread of misinformation,” Karen Graves, the spokeswoman, told the magazine. “We later learned that they wanted to bring some constituents (without providing their names or how they selected them) into what was initially portrayed as a private call. We decided that it was in our best interest to decline.”
Vance’s office, for their part, stated they were “confused by the last-minute cancellation of a meeting requested by Springfield officials.”
Photo courtesy of Political Tribune photo library.
