An Ohio city, Springfield, has taken legal action against a neo-Nazi group, the Blood Tribe, for their alleged involvement in a campaign of harassment and intimidation against the city's Haitian community. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Dayton, accuses the group of inciting racial hatred and targeting individuals who supported the Haitian immigrants.
With assistance from the Anti-Defamation League, the plaintiffs, including Mayor Rob Rue, are seeking a jury trial to prevent further threats and seek damages from the Blood Tribe. The lawsuit details various instances of hateful conduct by the group, such as bomb threats, death threats, and public displays of Nazi symbols.
Springfield has experienced tensions as its Haitian population has grown to around 10,000 people in recent years. Friction arose between the newcomers and local residents, exacerbated by incidents like a fatal accident involving a Haitian immigrant driver hitting a school bus in 2023.
The lawsuit also references false claims made by former President Donald Trump during a presidential debate, where he falsely accused Springfield's Haitians of abducting and eating pets. The Blood Tribe allegedly capitalized on these claims to incite further hatred and violence against the Haitian community.
The legal action against the Blood Tribe comes after efforts by a national advocacy group for Haitians to hold Trump and his then-running mate, Vice President JD Vance, accountable for the chaos and threats faced by Springfield. While a panel of local judges referred the matter to the county prosecutor for investigation, the advocacy group has filed an appeal in the Ohio Supreme Court.
The lawsuit underscores the ongoing challenges faced by immigrant communities in the United States and the importance of combating hate groups that seek to spread fear and division.
