William Barber, faith leaders coming to Springfield, Ohio
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Rev. Dr. William Barber is seen on the final night of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Faither leaders, led by Rev. William Barber of the Repairers of the Breach, are coming to Springfield, Ohio, amid threats of violence stemming from Donald Trump spreading baseless conspiracy theories about Haitian immigrants.
Why it matters: Faith leaders say they will stand in solidarity with the Haitian community on Sunday, ahead of Trump's planned visit to the same city.
- Haitians in Springfield have experienced threats and intimidation while the city grapples with widespread bomb threats that have forced the closure of schools and city buildings.
Catch up quick: Trump repeated debunked claims about immigrants eating house pets that have embroiled the Ohio town during his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris.
- The false rumors had been circulating on social media via right-wing influencers, though various media outlets have proven them false.
- Trump and his running-mate Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) have tripled down on conspiracy claims about Haitians this month, even as threats have rocked the city.
- Trump vowed to conduct the "largest deportation" of undocumented immigrants in the country's history, starting in Springfield and Aurora, Colorado.
Earlier this week, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) said the smears "need to stop," and Harris condemned Trump and Vance for their "hateful rhetoric" about Haitian migrants.
The latest: Faith leaders will hold a candlelight vigil for Haitian immigrants and will meet with community members, Repairers of the Breach, a group founded by Barber, said in a statement.
What they're saying: "When politicians spread lies about immigrants for political gain, they not only endanger the people they lie about and make our communities less safe for everyone," Barber says.
- "They also reject God. We challenge these lies because we want to welcome God's love and justice in every community."
- Barber cited passages from the Bible that show Jesus urging his followers to welcome the stranger.
The intrigue: Barber is a major figure of the Christian left and has been training a new generation of theologians and activists on the social Gospel to fight systemic inequality amid the nation's shifting religious views.
Flashback: Barber joined Rev. Liz Theoharis of New York City in 2018 to lead a reboot of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Poor People's Campaign of 1968, half a century later.
- Organizers of the 2018 campaign said they wanted to use the 50th anniversary of the 1968 effort to restart conversations around the struggles that poor people continue to face.
