Springfield Cancels Annual Street Festival Over Threats

The Springfield News-Sun reports:

Springfield city officials announced the cancellation of an annual celebration of diversity, arts and culture due to safety concerns, after numerous threats were received by city, county and school facilities.

Those threats came after Springfield landed in the national spotlight over its Haitian immigration tensions, especially in the wake of baseless claims against immigrants going viral on social media and being shared by top Republican politicians including former President Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. and vice presidential candidate JD Vance.

We deeply regret having to cancel CultureFest, as we know, it is a beloved event for our community,” the city manager, Brian Heck, said in a statement. “However, the safety of our residents and visitors must come first.”

Read the full article. The event was scheduled for next weekend.

Springfield, Ohio cancels its annual CultureFest, citing recent threats, safety concerns, and the need to “prevent any potential risks to attendees, staff, vendors and volunteers.” pic.twitter.com/jOfGfix6r0

— nikki mccann ramírez (@NikkiMcR) September 16, 2024

Springfield cancels CultureFest, citing safety concerns due to threats https://t.co/BTG5Pnbr2D

— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) September 16, 2024