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Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Springfield sues ‘Blood Tribe' members after summer of harassment, threats
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WDTN) — The City of Springfield is suing what it calls a Neo-Nazi group, after months of reported harassment and intimidation. The lawsuit claims the group's actions were fueled by 'ethnic and racial hatred,' specifically against Springfield's Haitian community. Springfield files federal lawsuit against alleged Neo-Nazi group for campaign of 'threats and intimidation' That population was first brought into the national spotlight during last year's presidential campaign, with unfounded claims against legal Haitian migrants leading to days of unrest and several bomb threats. Attorneys for the city of Springfield filed a lawsuit against self-proclaimed Blood Tribe Founder Christopher Pohlhaus, the local leader Drake Berentz and seven other Blood Tribe members, listed as 'John Does.' The suit describes the group as a 'white supremacist organization,' accused of more than 30 bomb threats and other forms of harassment during the summer of 2024. According to the Anti-Defamation League, the Blood Tribe is a growing Neo-Nazi group that claims to have chapters across the country. The group does not allow women to be members. The Blood Tribe first held a public demonstration in Ohio when they protested a drag queen store hour in Wadsworth. The 58-page lawsuit was filed in federal court in Dayton. It outlines several claims of harassment and intimidation by Blood Tribe leaders and members. Now, Springfield is seeking damages. Swastika-waving group chased off of I-75 by neighborhood According to court documents, Blood Tribe members allegedly showed up in downtown Springfield during the Jazz and Blues Festival last August, waving swastika flags, pointing guns at attendees and shouting racial slurs. This came after the founder of the group allegedly encouraged Blood Tribe members on social media to 'hit Springfield' due to the rapidly growing Haitian community in the city. Later that month, the local Blood Tribe leader addressed the city at a commission meeting. One resident spoke out. 'He is a literal Nazi, he marched with swastikas,' the resident said during the meeting. 'Do not give him a platform.' The leader allegedly threatened officials at the meeting and called for the city to stop letting immigrants in. Springfield Mayor Rob Rue asked police to escort the man from the building. 'In our guidelines, the moment you begin to sound threatening, that's when we say that's enough,' said Rue. 'That's not free speech, that's a threat.' 'You sound threatening to me,' said Rue during the meeting. 'If I could just ask the police to go ahead — you just sound threatening, if you could just go ahead and just peacefully be removed.' The lawsuit claims that following this particular meeting, the Blood Tribe harassed supporters of the Haitian community, along with Rue. The suit accuses Blood Tribe members of sending suspicious packages resembling bombs to some plaintiffs. The defendants are also accused of sharing personal information, sending hate-filled emails and voicemails and using dating apps to send men to the homes of Haitian community supporters late at night under false pretenses. Rue shared a statement regarding the suit: The city of Springfield will not stand idly by while hate groups like the Blood Tribe attempt to terrorize our residents and violate their civil rights. This lawsuit sends a clear message that hate, intimidation and violence have no place in our community.' Rob Rue, Springfield mayor Read the full lawsuit below: SPRINGFIELD-V-BLOOD-TRIBEDownload The lawsuit is demanding a jury trial on nine counts, including conspiracy to violate civil rights, menacing, inciting violence and ethnic intimidation. The city of Springfield has until May 7 to officially serve the Blood Tribe. 2 NEWS reached out to both sides of this lawsuit for a statement. We are waiting to hear back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Springfield sues neo-Nazi group over rhetoric about Haitians during 2024 election
The city of Springfield, Ohio, which faced a wave of threats last year following false accusations that Haitian migrants living in the town were 'eating pets' of U.S. citizens, filed a lawsuit Thursday against a new-Nazi group that it alleges tormented the community. Springfield Mayor Rob Rue and others filed the lawsuit against a group called the 'Blood Tribe,' naming its leaders Christopher Pohlhaus and Drake Berentz along with several unnamed followers. The case was filed in a U.S. District Court in Dayton. 'The Blood Tribe and its members and associates unleashed a torrent of hateful conduct, including acts of harassment, bomb threats, and death threats, against Springfield residents who spoke out in support of the Haitian community,' says the complaint. President Trump honed worldwide attention on the city during a presidential debate with Democratic rival Kamala Harris in September last year, when he repeated false claims that Springfield's Haitians were abducting and eating people's cats and dogs. The plaintiffs said the Blood Tribe showed up at the city's jazz and blues festival in August, where it displayed guns, waved swastika flags and wore matching red shirts, black pants and ski masks. Members of the groups then allegedly made their way to City Hall, where Berentz issued a 'racist and antisemitic rant,' and followers responded with chants of 'Seig Heil' and Nazi salutes, the court filing states. The city authorities further alleged in the lawsuit that the group engaged in and incited 'a campaign of harassment and intimidation, motivated by ethnic and racial hatred, against those who supported Springfield's Haitian community in the face of Defendants' racist attacks.' The complainants have demanded the group be stopped from issuing further threats, requesting the court for a jury trial. The Anti-Defamation League, a nonprofit focused on combating antisemitism, provided legal help to the plaintiffs. Springfield has a population of around 60,000. Amid Haitians seeking refuge from violence in their homeland, the town recently witnessed an increase in its Haitian community, which now numbers about 10,000 individuals. This led to tensions within the community, as essential services such as schools, roads, hospitals, and social programs have become strained. The situation intensified following an accident in 2023 when a Haitian immigrant driver collided with a school bus, resulting in a child's death The city's lawsuit accused the Blood Tribe of coordinated a 'hit' against the city. It added that in July, the group presented the influx of Haitians as an 'invasion' that was threatening Springfield's 'good White residents.' Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
08-02-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Springfield sues neo-Nazi group over rhetoric about Haitians during 2024 election
The city of Springfield, Ohio, which faced a wave of threats last year following false accusations that Haitian migrants living in the town were 'eating pets' of U.S. citizens, filed a lawsuit Thursday against a new-Nazi group that it alleges tormented the community. Springfield Mayor Rob Rue and others filed the lawsuit against a group called the 'Blood Tribe,' naming its leaders Christopher Pohlhaus and Drake Berentz along with several unnamed followers. The case was filed in a U.S. District Court in Dayton. 'The Blood Tribe and its members and associates unleashed a torrent of hateful conduct, including acts of harassment, bomb threats, and death threats, against Springfield residents who spoke out in support of the Haitian community,' says the complaint. President Trump honed worldwide attention on the city during a presidential debate with Democratic rival Kamala Harris in September last year, when he repeated false claims that Springfield's Haitians were abducting and eating people's cats and dogs. The plaintiffs said the Blood Tribe showed up at the city's jazz and blues festival in August, where it displayed guns, waved swastika flags and wore matching red shirts, black pants and ski masks. Members of the groups then allegedly made their way to City Hall, where Berentz issued a 'racist and antisemitic rant,' and followers responded with chants of 'Seig Heil' and Nazi salutes, the court filing states. The city authorities further alleged in the lawsuit that the group engaged in and incited 'a campaign of harassment and intimidation, motivated by ethnic and racial hatred, against those who supported Springfield's Haitian community in the face of Defendants' racist attacks.' The complainants have demanded the group be stopped from issuing further threats, requesting the court for a jury trial. The Anti-Defamation League, a nonprofit focused on combating antisemitism, provided legal help to the plaintiffs. Springfield has a population of around 60,000. Amid Haitians seeking refuge from violence in their homeland, the town recently witnessed an increase in its Haitian community, which now numbers about 10,000 individuals. This led to tensions within the community, as essential services such as schools, roads, hospitals, and social programs have become strained. The situation intensified following an accident in 2023 when a Haitian immigrant driver collided with a school bus, resulting in a child's death The city's lawsuit accused the Blood Tribe of coordinated a 'hit' against the city. It added that in July, the group presented the influx of Haitians as an 'invasion' that was threatening Springfield's 'good White residents.' Associated Press contributed to this report.
