BREAKING: Trump and Vance Inspire Terrorism in Ohio

And this isn't the first time -- a detailed report shows Trump has incited dozens of acts of violence against marginalized communities.

Donald Trump and JD Vance are inspiring terrorism in the United States. This is not hyperbole. Today we have breaking news that two elementary schools have been shut down and evacuated due to legitimate bomb threats inspired by Trump’s anti-immigrant and anti-Haitian bigotry. ABC News and The Hill report:

On Thursday, city hall was evacuated after a bomb threat was issued to “multiple facilities” in the area. Two elementary schools were also listed in the threat. It was later revealed the bomb threat used hateful language against the city’s immigrant population. The threats come just days after Trump took the stage in Philadelphia at presidential debate and gave voice to conspiracy theories that migrants, particularly Haitian migrants in Springfield, were eating people’s cats and dogs.

Far from an isolated incident, this is part of Trump’s decade long trend of inspiring terrorism in the United States. Let’s Address This.

Known racists, JD Vance and Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Ben Gray, File)

If you saw the President debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, then you likely saw this unhinged quote from the Republican nominee for President:

In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there.

Trump attributed this lie to Haitian immigrants, adding that they are “invading” Springfield, Ohio. He repeated this propaganda claim on Thursday September 12 at a campaign stop:

There’s a place called Springfield, Ohio, that you’ve been reading about. Twenty-thousand illegal Haitian immigrants have descended upon the town of 58,000 people, destroying their entire way of life. This was a beautiful community and now it’s horrible what’s happened.

JD Vance, who is married to the daughter of Indian immigrants, defended and repeated Trump’s vile and racist comments against Haitian immigrants. Meanwhile, everyone from the Springfield City Manager, to the Springfield Mayor, to Ohio’s Republican Governor DeWine have all rejected this false attack on Haitian immigrants.

SEIU 1199 Vice President Gerard Cadet speaks at a press conference in support of Haitian immigrants. (WNV/Max Zahn)

Trump’s anti-Haitian hate is even more perplexing given that he extended TPS status for 59,000 Haitian immigrants. But somehow his racism shines through uninhibited. Unsurprisingly, Trump’s claim that Haitian immigrants are hurting the economy is a flat out lie. Jamie McGregor is the CEO of McGregor Metal, which makes welded parts for the auto and farm industries, and says this about his immigrant Haitian employees:

I wish I had 30 more. Our Haitian associates come to work every day. They don't have a drug problem. They will stay at their machine. They will achieve their numbers. They are here to work. And so, in general, that's a stark difference from what we’re used to in our community.

Springfield residents go on to point out that their church pews are full for the first time in a long time, because Haitians are observant and practicing Christians. As Trump denounces devout Black Haitian Christians, a reminder that when he claims Christianity is being attacked what he actually means is his white supremacy is being attacked.

And speaking of attacks, Trump’s aforementioned incitement to terrorism is not new. An ABC News study from 2020 found that Trump’s violent rhetoric ignited actual violence at least 54 times:

A nationwide review conducted by ABC News has identified at least 54 criminal cases where Trump was invoked in direct connection with violent acts, threats of violence or allegations of assault. ABC News found that in at least 12 cases perpetrators hailed Trump in the midst or immediate aftermath of physically assaulting innocent victims. In another 18 cases, perpetrators cheered or defended Trump while taunting or threatening others. And in another 10 cases, Trump and his rhetoric were cited in court to explain a defendant's violent or threatening behavior.

By contrast, “ABC News could not find a single criminal case filed in federal or state court where an act of violence or threat was made in the name of President Barack Obama or President George W. Bush.” Demonstrating once more that this is not a Republican vs Democrat issue, but a weird extremism vs normal American issue.

So what does all this mean for us?

In any normal election year, Vance and Trump inciting terrorism against Americans would be an automatic disqualification, and would likely earn criminal charges. Sadly, we do not live in normal times. But that is why it is that much more imperative we recognize these incitements to terrorism for the terrorism they are. We cannot become numb or calloused to these calls for violence, which are themselves grounded in white supremacy and anti-immigrant hate. Donald Trump has a documented record of inciting violence and terrorism against Americans—and his anti-Haitian rhetoric is just another example of his depravity for humanity, justice, and the rule of law. All Americans must stand united to reject it, unequivocally, once and for all.