Race/Related: In Springfield, Ohio, threats leave Haitian residents shaken

Tension hangs over the city after a week of closings and lockdowns.

View in browser|nytimes.com September 20, 2024 A "Greetings from Springfield" mural in the Ohio city last month. Maddie McGarvey for The New York Times By Kevin Williams The small Ohio city is at the center of a national conversation After a week that saw schools, businesses and City Hall closed in Springfield, Ohio, by bomb threats, this weekend began with two of the city's hospitals going on lockdown. A sweep of both facilities on Saturday morning turned up nothing, but the new threats only added to the unease hanging over the city since former President Donald J. Trump dragged it into the race for the White House. During the presidential debate on Tuesday, Mr. Trump cited a debunked rumor that Haitian immigrants in Springfield were abducting and eating pets, and days later, he vowed to begin his mass deportation effort with the Haitians in Springfield, even though most of them are in the United States legally. The increasingly hostile rhetoric from Mr. Trump, other politicians and some extremist organizations has shaken some of the thousands of Haitians who have settled in Springfield in recent years. "Honestly, I don't feel safe. It's not good right now," says Jean-Patrick Louisius, 40, who moved to Springfield four years ago with his wife and two daughters. He was part of an early wave of Haitian arrivals, attracted to the city by plentiful jobs and affordable housing. Estimates of the number of Haitians who have arrived in recent years range from 12,000 to 20,000. But tensions between longtime residents and more recent arrivals had been building before the national spotlight landed on the city, about 25 miles from Dayton. Maddie McGarvey for The New York Times Continue reading → EDITORS' PICKS We publish many articles that touch on race. Here are a few you shouldn't miss. Christopher Capozziello for The New York Times Yale, Princeton and Duke Are Questioned Over Decline in Asian Students The legal group that won a Supreme Court case that ended race-based college admissions suggested it might sue schools where the percentage of Asian students fell. By Anemona Hartocollis Surya Garigipati Photography & Films Vows South Meets North India at an Inclusive Hindu Wedding When Dr. Yuvaram Reddy, who had lived in South India, and Chetan Jhaveri, who is of North Indian heritage, chose to marry, their families' approval was crucial. By Rosalie R. Radomsky Tom Brenner for The New York Times Biden Celebrates Investments in Black Colleges While Promoting Harris At a conference for historically Black colleges and universities in Philadelphia, the president tallied up his administration's contributions to "H.B.C.U. excellence." By Zach Montague Graham Dickie/The New York Times Reporter's Notebook Don't Call It a Protest. It's a Walk for Radical Love. María Magdalena Campos-Pons is marshaling New Yorkers for unity, linking uptown and downtown communities while highlighting inequities in city parks. By Aruna D'Souza Nina Westervelt for The New York Times America Ferrera and Other Celebrities Join Push to Mobilize Latino Voters Gabriel Luna and Jessica Alba also joined a $5 million effort by the Voto Latino Foundation to encourage Latino voters to cast a ballot in November. By Jazmine Ulloa Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times Critic's Pick Elizabeth Catlett: Revolutionary Artist, Radical Inspiration Once she was cast out of the United States. Today, her art and activism are front and center at an exhilarating Brooklyn Museum retrospective. By Siddhartha Mitter Abdi Ibrahim T Introduces An Artist Whose Furniture Is a 'Bat Signal' to His Loved Ones Ryan Preciado's designs evoke his childhood memories and first architectural influences. By Eviana Hartman Invite your friends. Invite someone to subscribe to the Race/Related newsletter. Or email your thoughts and suggestions to racerelated@nytimes.com. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Race/Related from The New York Times. To stop receiving Race/Related, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018