Local

‘Hateful garbage;’ Police investigating after KKK flyers distributed

KKK flyer Fort Wright KY

FORT WRIGHT, KY — KKK flyers were left in neighborhoods across the Tri-State, according to our news partner WCPO Cincinnati. Residents in Fort Wright, Kentucky found the flyers left on their doors.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

“It’s just disappointing, honestly,” said Samuel, who lives in Fort Wright, to WCPO. “I fear for community members who don’t deserve to be targeted like that.”

TRENDING STORIES:

Samuel’s neighbors informed him about the flyers, he said his family did not get one. He saw more people saying they received the same flyer on Facebook, which made him more worried, according to WCPO.

“Specifically, just due to the fact that it looks like they knew who they were going after where they lived, and that’s concerning,” he said to WCPO.

According to Mayor Dave Hatter, at least three streets received the Trinity White Knights of the KKK flyer. A statement from the city says officials believe the flyers are working to “intimidate immigrants and encourage membership in the KKK.”

The flyer, which WCPO chose not to fully share, mentions avoiding deportation, saying “leave now.”

Hatter said he and the city council were outraged and dismayed the flyers were distributed, specifically on Martin Luther King Jr Day, according to WCPO.

“On behalf of myself, Council and Staff, I want to condemn this flyer and state in the strongest possible terms that this type of hateful garbage is loathsome and deplorable, does not represent the Fort Wright Community or the values of our businesses and residents, will not be tolerated in the City of Fort Wright and should not be tolerated by our society as a whole,” he said.

Northern Kentucky NAACP Branch President Jerome Bowles said flyers like these are not new.

“You see the desperation of these groups, trying to encourage people to join their cause,” Bowles said to WCPO. “What it tells me is their movement is dying out. So they’re trying to use all means that they can recruit.”

Bowles told WCPO that this is nothing to be afraid of, but is urging people to stay vigilant. He said these flyers do not represent what the community stands for.

“Fact of the matter is this region is going in a totally different direction than what the flyer and those individuals represent,” said Bowles to WCPO.

Anyone who wants to report anything regarding the incident is asked to contact police at 859-331-1700.

[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]


0