Residents of Greene County reported that the flyers promoting racism and white supremacy began appearing in their mailboxes and driveaways around two weeks ago.
Speaking to KDKA, Capt. William DeForte, of the Greene County Regional Police Department, said the most recent KKK flyer was found on Tuesday.
“Every officer here was offended and extremely motivated to find the individual passing out this information,” DeForte said.
The flyers, which are usually placed in plastic bags and weighed down with bird seed, tell people to “vote pro-America” and “pro-law and order” while also encouraging people to wear a mask and to vote in person.
The flyer adds that people should “Kontact the experts,” the Loyal White Knights—a KKK-affiliated group based in Pelham, North Carolina.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) describes the Loyal White Knight group as “one of the largest and most active Klan groups” in the U.S.
Earlier this year, police departments across Virginia launched separate investigations after Loyal White Knight flyers appeared in towns and cities across the state in July.
Speaking to the Observer Reporter, DeForte said distribution of the flyers “has been prolific” in recent weeks.
“Several members of the community have come forward to notify us about the flyers. Residents are concerned because this isn’t something the residents believe in,” said DeForte.
“This type of activity is Draconian and unacceptable. The people in my community are good people, and this is not what the people of Greene County represent.”
DeForte added the flyers are “on the edge of the protections of the First Amendment when speech would cause civil unrest.”
Morris Township resident Kris Kreuzer was one of those who received such a flyer.
She told the Observer Reporter that her husband found it after going to their mailbox to retrieve their newspaper.
“The hair stood up on the back of my neck. I was so upset,” said Kreuzer. “It’s really scary when something like that lands on your driveway. It’s an invasion.”
Dr. Andrew Goudy, president of the Washington Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said: “The NAACP will not tolerate any organization that openly spews hatred toward minority groups in this area.
“We urge all decent people in Washington and Greene counties to reject the hatred coming from the KKK.”
Authorities are now asking for the public’s help with the investigation.
“We’re looking for the community’s help to identify any individuals that may have stuck those flyers in those yards, in the mailboxes or on the porches,” said Greene County District Attorney David Russo.
