The Republican presidential candidate Trump claimed in last week's debate with the Democrats' Kamala Harris that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, eat people's dogs and cats.
The statement is completely false, according to several American media outlets. But despite the city administration and police stating that they have not received any reliable reports of pet eating - or that pets have been harmed by migrants at all - the tension has increased in the small town.
Both on Thursday and Friday, threats were made against schools that were either closed or evacuated. The federal police, FBI, are also investigating threats against the local Haitian association.
The rumors started with a post on X claiming that "anchors and pets are disappearing" in the town. Several Republicans, led by Donald Trump, fueled the fire and blamed an "invasion" of migrants.
The city's mayor, Rob Rue, tells CNN that all pets and their owners can feel safe in Springfield, but that the threats are dangerous.
We need help, not hate, he says.
Biden lashes out
At an election rally in Arizona on Thursday, Trump continued his accusations, claiming that 20,000 "illegal" people are "destroying (Springfield residents') way of life" and raping and murdering young girls.
Another day later, he said that the "barbaric criminals" would be mass-deported if he became president.
President Joe Biden lashed out on Friday against the spread of rumors, saying that "there is no place in the USA" for such things.
This must stop, what he is doing must stop, he said about Trump's statements.
Springfield was for many years a town with a declining population and economic downturn before around 20,000 Haitians moved in and now make up a quarter of the population. The town's economy has since then significantly improved, according to AFP.
Boy died
The tensions between the local population and the newcomers flared up last year when Haitians collided with a school bus and an 11-year-old boy died.
The boy's father, Nathan Clark, made headlines this week when he spoke about the inflamed atmosphere where his son Aidan's death was used by xenophobic voices.
They can spew out all the hate they want. But they have not, and have never had, permission to use Aidan's name, for that, he said.
