FEARMONGERING IN SPRINGFIELD

		“In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs!”
		yelled Trump at his TV debate.
		What’s behind these demon tales?
		What fuels such baseless hate?

		It starts with an influx of workers
		back in 2017.
		Springfield factories no longer hummed.
		The town was in decline.

		Then came the Haitian immigrants
		to package food, work shifts
		in automotive machining plants.
		But new faces caused rifts.

		15,000 new faces
		riled up a Nazi group—
		this “Blood Tribe” marched with swastika flags
		and paramilitary troops
		
		to crash a jazz and blues event.
		Pointed guns at cars.
		Shouted, “Go back to Africa!”
		The Blood Tribe was at war.

		A spokesman told the City Council:
		stop hiring workers’ kin.
		“Crime and savagery will increase
		with every Haitian you bring in.”  *

		The speaker got kicked out. Next day,
		Springfield City Hall
		was closed because of bomb threats,
		and a school got threatening calls.

		Then, when a cat went missing,
		the scapegoating began.
		“They say those Haitians eat our pets.”
		Rumors wildly ran.

		Now schools are closed to keep kids safe.
		Bomb threats, fear, and hate
		menace Springfield’s peaceful town.
		Does this make America great?

		* Quote by Drake Berentz, aka, Nathaniel Higgins,
		reported by Stephen Starr in the Guardian, 9/14/2024