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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBen Meiselas: Amy from Springfield, Ohio sent me the following message I have permission to share
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Amy from Springfield, Ohio sent me the following message I have permission to share:
Ben, I am writing from Springfield, Ohio, where I was born and raised, and raised my kids. It's a little town in Clark County, Ohio that was named in honor of my ancestor George Rogers Clark, brother of William Clark from the Lewis and Clark Expedition. My little city of 59,000 people, consists mostly of blue-collar workers, day laborers, teachers, nurses, etc. We are the home of the silent film actress Lillian Gish, comedian Jonathon Winters, and of course, the great John Legend.
I never imagined seeing our town as the epicenter of so much conversation, discussion, and debate.
Seriously, I can't turn on the TV without hearing our city mentioned!
The truth is that no one steals our pets, let alone eats them. Our police department has verified this.
Our Haitian population is known to be hard workers, business owners, and good neighbors. One friend said his Haitian neighbors always smile and wave, and that you've never heard Brahm's Lullaby until you've heard sung in French to an infant by a Haitian mother.
My friend who is a construction worker at the Intel plant in Columbus said that many Haitian employees reside in Springfield (more affordable) and travel to Columbus to work...and that they are good people, hard workers, and always on time. Some are taking the opportunity to get training to further their skill set and employability.
What HAS happened in Springfield is an outpouring of xenophobia. There are protests by the Proud Boys on the corners and violent threats to our city hall, colleges, and schools. Our tiny downtown (honestly, if you blink you'll miss it!) has dealt with multiple bomb threats, causing several schools to be evacuated and closed. The college where I teach, Clark State, is going virtual this week (Sept 16-20) out of an abundance of caution. Thumbs up to our college president and other administrators for always making safety a priority.
Why?
Because of Trump's complete lie about our city (a sarcastic "thank you" also to Loomer and Vance).
As you know, Haitians are here under protective status. They are not killing and eating our cats and dogs, along with ducks and geese in Snyder Park. It has now become a running joke with an abundance of memes. But the truth is, it's sad and frightening.
Along with teaching college, I have a small Etsy business. A recent customer has been wonderfully patient as I postponed shipment because I hesitate to go downtown to the Post Office (a request of my kids who live in LA, I told them I'd find a different shipping location).
The lies from Trump and his allies are being perpetuated in the city. But fortunately, people are coming to Springfield to support our Haitian businesses!
I can only hope that this little town, which typically leans red, will wake up and see what is in store without a blue wave.
Nice letter - thanks for sharing it, BM!
Srkdqltr
(7,251 posts)I don't understand the situation.
Contrary to what Trump and Vance are saying, the people in Springfield are not "illegal immigrants."
The decision marks a major expansion of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and won praise from many in the Haitian and immigration advocacy community.
The TPS designation was created by Congress in 1990 to prevent deportations to countries suffering natural disasters or civil strife. The Homeland Security secretary can grant temporary protection for different nationalities based on conditions in their home countries. Its generally for a designated period, and people have to apply for the protection and prove they qualify for it. The protection also allows them to apply for a work permit.
getagrip_already
(16,916 posts)Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a temporary immigration status that allows foreign nationals from certain countries to live and work in the United States for a limited time. The Secretary of Homeland Security grants TPS to eligible individuals who are already in the United States or who last resided in a designated country.
TPS is granted when a country is experiencing conditions that prevent its nationals from returning safely, such as: ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, epidemic, and other extraordinary and temporary conditions.
Benefits of TPS include: Protection from deportation, Employment authorization, and Eligibility for travel authorization.
Srkdqltr
(7,251 posts)Evolve Dammit
(17,992 posts)KS Toronado
(18,695 posts)Hope she stays safe, MAGAts hate opinions that don't praise Der orange Fuhrer.
ananda
(29,946 posts)She sounds like the real soul of our nation,
which is inclusive and caring.
dalton99a
(83,307 posts)AllaN01Bear
(22,393 posts)AZ8theist
(6,134 posts)YOU FUCKING ASSWIPE!!!
He's the damn SENATOR for ALL of Ohio. Does he really want his own citizenry KILLED over LIES??
What a vile, useless lying piece of sub-human scum Vance is.......GO FUCK YOURSELF VANCE!!!!
birdographer
(2,184 posts)as not giving a f**k whether they are or not. He made this up out of thin air, out of his shared racism with trump. To please trump. To cater to trump's cult. And I imagine he is pleased as can be with the result of his lies. Look at how powerful he is! He can get morons to go there with guns and make bomb threats!
We have GOT to vote these guys out for once and for all. We can do it. Let's start next year with a republican-free clean slate and move forward.
BonnieJW
(2,449 posts)if some nut went after his wife and kids? He would go ballistic and blame it on Biden and Harris. He is laying the groundwork for a tragedy in this little town.
MLAA
(18,178 posts)pansypoo53219
(21,486 posts)Bumbles
(139 posts)In fact, he said "back" to Venezuela.
Nothing about him is grounded in reality. Unfortunately, many have gone down the rabbit hole with him.
llmart
(16,144 posts)What I wouldn't give to have both of them deported to Siberia.
NoMoreRepugs
(10,228 posts)barbtries
(29,421 posts)it already is.
every day that TCFSF gets closer to getting beat is one more day that he does or says something insane and hateful that his worshiping cult will act upon with malice and violence and threats.
I am utterly exhausted by the past 9+ years that seem to never end
yorkster
(2,152 posts)All we hear about is the latest from Chaos Agents 1 and 2.
Hekate
(93,551 posts)Sequoia
(12,491 posts)"...sung in French by a Haitian mother to her infant..." ❤ I want all those mothers to feel safe from these monsters.
ArkansasDemocrat1
(2,602 posts)Beartracks
(13,210 posts)===============