In Wyoming, Ohio, a small town known for its peaceful streets, residents recently woke up to a disturbing sight: Ku Klux Klan flyers scattered across the streets, targeting Black immigrants. These flyers weren’t just scraps of paper; they were a deliberate attempt to instill fear and division, a chilling reminder that hate is still a very real part of American life. This wasn’t a relic of a distant past. It was a blunt message to Black immigrants in Wyoming: “You are not welcome.”
For many Black immigrants, these messages cut deeply. They came to America seeking stability, hoping to build new lives, only to encounter hostility in a place they thought would be a safe haven. This incident in Wyoming isn’t isolated, either. It reflects a troubling trend seen across Ohio, where hate incidents targeting minority communities have been rising.
Just a few months ago, in Springfield, a small town not far from Wyoming, Haitian immigrants faced a similar wave of discrimination. On social media, local groups became hotbeds of anti-immigrant rhetoric, with residents openly questioning the presence of Haitian families in their schools and neighborhoods. The Haitian community in Springfield, many of whom had come to America for a better life, was left feeling vulnerable, doubting whether they were truly accepted.