Springfield, Ohio, has initiated legal action against a neo-Nazi group accused of perpetrating a campaign of harassment and threats targeting supporters of the city’s Haitian community.
In a move to address a period of unrest and fear, the city of Springfield and its Mayor Rob Rue, along with several other plaintiffs, have filed a lawsuit against the neo-Nazi group known as the Blood Tribe. The legal action, taken in U.S. District Court in Dayton, accuses the group and its leaders, Christopher Pohlhaus and Drake Berentz, as well as seven unnamed members, of inciting ethnic and racial hatred.
This lawsuit is backed by the Anti-Defamation League and seeks to prevent the Blood Tribe from making further threats while also pursuing damages. The legal documents detail various forms of intimidation allegedly employed by the group, including harassment through voicemails, emails, and social media. They are also accused of sending individuals to residents’ homes via dating apps with ulterior motives and disseminating personal information to encourage further harassment.
Springfield, with a Haitian population that has grown to approximately 10,000, has been under strain due to the influx of immigrants seeking stability. Tensions in the city heightened following a tragic event in 2023 when a Haitian driver was involved in a fatal accident with a school bus, which contributed to local discord. The lawsuit claims that the Blood Tribe’s actions were a calculated response to cast the Haitian arrivals as a threat to the community.
During an August event, members of the Blood Tribe reportedly displayed weapons, Nazi symbols, and engaged in antisemitic rhetoric. Their disruptive presence during Springfield’s jazz and blues festival was noted in the lawsuit, where they gathered at City Hall to voice racially charged messages.
The situation was exacerbated by public figures, including statements from then-candidate Donald Trump during a presidential debate. The rhetoric cast Springfield’s Haitian community in a negative light, suggesting they were involved in bizarre criminal activities, which the lawsuit suggests fueled the harassment campaign.
Despite the lawsuit not directly charging Trump or his campaign, it mentions Pohlhaus’s pleasure at the spread of these unfounded allegations globally after the debate. The city contests the right to file criminal charges against Trump and Vice President JD Vance, a matter currently under review by the Ohio Supreme Court.
Springfield’s lawsuit represents a significant step in confronting the intimidation faced by its Haitian community. While legal proceedings are underway, the plaintiffs hope for not only protection but also a measure of accountability for those accused of inciting fear and division.
