John Legend referred to the special mention of Springfield at the debate and gave a background of the immigrants crisis in Springfield. He said people were migrating from Springfield years ago as there were no opportunities. “When I was there, we had upwards of 75,000 people, and in the last five years, we were down to like 60,000 people.”
The Haitians faced many difficulties settling in a new place with new language, new culture and new dietary preferences. “I think all of us need to have the same kind of grace that we would want our ancestors — when they moved here — with our Haitian brothers and sisters.” They came here because there were jobs for them, the singer added.
Immigrants usually do very well here. They are hardworking and nobody is eating cats and dogs, John Legend said adding thar his Christianity taught him to love neighbors as one loves themselves.
John Legend’s lecturing did not go down well with many detractors who shared the video of his Beverly Hills home tour. “You should totally listen to John Legend lecture you on his hometown of Springfield, and how 15,000 Haitian immigrants into a town of 60,000 is totally normal. He’s just like you. Except he doesn’t live in Springfield. He lives in a multimillion dollar mansion in Beverly Hills,” one comment said.
Amid the rumors, many establishments in Springfield received bomb threats on Thursday leading to emergency evacuation of city hall, schools and residential buildings. The bomb threat used hateful language towards immigrants and Haitians, mayor Rob Rue said hinting at a connection between the cat-eating rumors and the bomb threat.
No bomb was found after the threat was made. But Rue told the local Fox outlet that, in the threat, “there was enough negative language toward immigrants, towards Haitian folks that would bring enough concern. And then when it followed up with … at the end, of a bomb threat … It was pretty much just the beginning of the conclusion that they’re going to threaten to harm people.”
