Springfield, Ohio — Two local pastors spoke to Fox News Digital about the ministry challenges facing their town, which has been thrust into the national spotlight after a viral video of residents complaining of disturbing behavior. haitian refugees who have settled in this area.
“I think the biggest change we’ve seen is a loss of trust in the community and even some of the basic courtesy has diminished a little bit,” said B.J. Newman, a pastor. in Springfield, Ohiotold Fox News Digital on Thursday from Snyder Park in Springfield. “I think the reason is that so many changes have happened so quickly … in the 2020 census, we had about 50,000 residents here, a little north of that, now we have, from the numbers I’m reading, 15,000 to 20,000 additional immigrants.”
The comments came at a time when the city where Newman works has been thrust into the national spotlight, and the attention has only grown since then. Ohio Senator J.D. Vance And former President Donald Trump highlighted the city for two consecutive days earlier this week.
On Monday, Vance wrote about the city on social media, claiming that “people’s pets are being kidnapped and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country.”
Haitian refugees ‘don’t understand the laws,’ says MP amid deadly accidents and cultural clashes
Local Springfield, Ohio, pastor B.J. Newman. (Fox News – Michael Lee)
Trump doubles down Debating that claim during Tuesday’s debate, he argued that Haitian refugees in Springfield “are eating dogs, the people who came here are eating cats.”
“They’re eating the pets of the people that live there and that’s what’s happening in our country and it’s shameful,” Trump said in response to a question. Questions about immigration,
Several local leaders came to the city’s defense and disputed this sweeping claim.
Newman also expressed disappointment in the claim and argued it distracted attention from the real issues facing Springfield locals as they try to keep up with the city’s population growth.
“I think the grief is real,” Newman said. “That’s one of the reasons I wanted to talk about it. I am a pastorAnd because I see the local people I serve being affected by this.”
Newman argued that the core of the issue was how quickly the city’s structure had changed, exacerbating cultural differences that led to tensions between longtime locals and the growing population of refugees from Haiti.
This is the same lake where swans were reportedly poached and killed by Haitian refugees. (Michael Lee/Fox News Digital)
“I think the vast majority of people in Springfield are good people, I think the vast majority of people here are very kind and hospitable people. And I think having such a large number of people come in in such a short period of time has caused real tension, real friction, and ultimately, I think that’s the source of all the difficulties,” Newman said.
The confrontation has increasingly escalated among longtime residents who have been attending City Council meetings to express their concerns about the intrusion.
Locals have particularly pointed out road safety issues, arguing that many Immigrant drivers These have been found responsible for a number of recent accidents, some of which have been fatal.
“Driving in the city is terrible,” former Ohio Republican state Rep. Kyle Koehler told Fox News Digital. He added that the main reason for this is cultural differences and the fact that many immigrants have come to Springfield without licenses and with very little driving experience.
In a high-profile incident last October, a school bus filled with dozens of children collided with a minivan, resulting in the injuries of more than 20 students on the bus and the death of one person, Aiden Clark.
Haitian immigrant Hermanio Joseph was found responsible for the accident and was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter and vehicular homicide,
A Haitian community center in Springfield, Ohio. (Michael Lee/Fox News Digital)
Focus group reacts to Trump’s claim that migrants are ‘eating dogs’ in Ohio town
“It shocked the community,” Newman said of the fatal accident. “In my role as a minister we got involved very quickly, and we had to work really hard to do some counseling and intervention. And I think that showed a shining star, like, ‘Wait a moment, what’s going on here.'”
However, while some residents mobilized to stop the influx of refugees, others began efforts to protect Haitian refugees.
Others also participated in an event organised in the city on Thursday. religious leaders City residents gathered at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Springfield to highlight their efforts to help and welcome a growing number of Haitian refugees.
One of the attendees at the event was Reverend Adam Banks of First Baptist Church, who told Fox News Digital that tensions in Springfield are expected but manageable.
“There is tension in the community, just as there has been tension in the past when new members came into an established area,” Banks said.
Banks attributed the current tension in Springfield to a “lack of understanding” and “familiarity” between two cultures that were not familiar with each other, but argued that this also means “there are more people who are available to share their talents” and assist with “services in the community”.
A sign welcoming motorists to downtown Springfield, Ohio. (Michael Lee/Fox News Digital)
Banks said some members of the Haitian community have attended his services. that refugees This should be welcomed by the community and not boycotted.
“They have been involved in helping with the sound system, performing special music, lending their sweet voices, reading scripture, providing leadership in various capacities in the congregation,” Banks said, adding that they will continue to “welcome” those who want to “celebrate the gifts each person brings and glorify God.”
The Reverend Adam Banks of the First Baptist Church. (Fox News – Michael Lee)
“We don’t need to share any more false information that reflects our fear of people we don’t understand,” Banks said.
Click here to get the Fox News app
Meanwhile, Newman argued that people who have been members of the community for a long time should have a right to be part of the conversation, even though they are typically rejected for the very reason that they are members of this community. Expressing any concerns,
“I think there’s a big narrative … that says the only compassionate response to a situation like this is that you accept all these immigrants and be quiet. Any sense of us raising our hands and saying, ‘Wait a moment, we haven’t been considered, we’re suffering from that too.’ And the response is like … you’re a racist or you’re a bigot, why are you so anti-immigrant,” Newman said.
