Springfield

Springfield, OH, has been thrust into the political spotlight.

In recent years, the arrival of ~15,000 Haitian immigrants has reshaped the town outside Columbus (total population ~58,000); the boom has caused tension with locals over housing and work opportunities and general “friction” between neighbors. 

Recently, a Facebook post circulated claiming a Haitian woman killed and ate a neighbor’s cat; former President Trump referenced this during Tuesday’s debate, putting Springfield at the center of the national conversation about immigration reform.

Over the weekend, Governor Mike DeWine (R-OH) acknowledged the town’s growing pains but said claims of pets being eaten are “simply not true.” He praised Haitians in Springfield, saying they immigrated there legally to work, and criticized recent accusations for endangering the community; bomb threats forced schools to be closed both Thursday and Friday.

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Verse to consider when you’re deciding what to say about a hot topic… “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Proverbs 18:21 (CSB) (read full passage)