An annual festival celebrating cultural diversity in Springfield has been canceled as violent threats, triggered by Sen. J.D. Vance's false story about Haitian immigrants, plague the Ohio city at the center of his own state, local reports show.
City officials announced Monday that CultureFest, slated to take place on Sept. 27 and Sept. 28, had been scrapped after multiple schools and the town hall were targeted with bomb threats, the Springfield News-Sun reported.
“We deeply regret having to cancel CultureFest, as we know it is a beloved event for our community,” City Manager Bryan Heck said in a Facebook announcement. “However, the safety of our residents and visitors must come first.”
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The announcement does not call out Vance's false claim, echoed by Donald Trump, that immigrants were eating pets but cites "recent threats and safety concerns" that Mayor Rob Rue told the New York Times were a “hateful response to immigration in our town.”
Monday's announcement states that "City officials, in consultation with local and state law enforcement, determined that canceling the event is the most responsible course of action to prevent any potential risks to attendees, staff, vendors and volunteers."
On Sunday, Vance appeared to admit to CNN's Dana Bash that he had shared made-up stories, but argued it was part of a noble cause to raise media awareness about the Biden administration's policies.
"If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that's what I'm going to do," Vance said.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine called Vance and Trump's rhetoric "garbage" and demanded the pair stop attacking people in his state.
“This is a piece of garbage that is simply not true," DeWine said on ABC’s “This Week.” “Discussion about Haitians eating dogs is just not helpful."
According to its official website, CultureFest activities would have included a Halloween horse event and a firefly fall fashion show.
