Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- KKK Flyers were reported distributed throughout three states this week: North Carolina, Maine, and Illinois. Park Forest and Manteno were targeted in Illinois.
Ku Klux Klan recruitment fliers were distributed throughout towns in North Carolina, Illinois and Maine this week, triggering condemnation across three states from religious leaders, lawmakers and concerned residents alike.
Pamphlets touting a KKK faction known as the Confederate White Knights were discovered Sunday morning throughout Gaston County, North Carolina, including outside homes in Cherryville and Dallas near Charlotte, the Gaston Gazette reported. Hundreds of miles away authorities, confiscated roughly 25 Ku Klux Klan leafless left that same day outside residences in Manteno, Illinois, south of Chicago, according to the local Daily Journal.
On Monday, meanwhile, similar fliers referencing a separate KKK faction were found throughout Maine by residents of Augusta, Gardiner and Freeport, local media reported, each advertising a purported “neighborhood watch” and a “24-hour Klanline.”
From Stacey Baca at ABC7Chicago.com:
Dozens of racist flyers and leaflets have been discovered in two Chicago suburbs: Park Forest and Manteno.
Residents contacted police are finding at least six flyers on Sunday. ABC7 crews found four flyers littering the streets Thursday, each one in a plastic bag with a few rocks. One was near Pascal Sanders’ home in Park Forest.
“It’s disappointing. It’s 2017. I got kids, this is what they have to deal with? I dealt with it, my parents did, now my kids have to? That’s sad,” Sanders said.
Residents expressed sadness, along with shock and disbelief.
“I would never imagine right here in the neighborhood where I reside. I hope they can get to the bottom of this,” Park Forest resident Mary Ferere said.
***
“This kind of material does not mesh at all with the character of our town. So it’s kind of a waste for whoever is distributing this in our community,” Park Forest spokesman Jason Miller said.
Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-IL 2nd District), who represents Park Forest and Manteno, took to Twitter to issue a statement, “Offensive KKK flyers found in Park Forest & Manteno are not our values & are not welcome! Proud of my community for speaking out.”
Offensive KKK flyers found in Park Forest & Manteno are not our values & are not welcome! Proud of my community for speaking out. #IL02Proud
— Robin Kelly (@RepRobinKelly) February 3, 2017
While distribution of flyers is not illegal, the content of these follow disturbing trends nationally. The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups nationally, encourages people to “report incidents of hateful intimidation and harassment to your local law enforcement first,” but also has a form available here where such incidents can be reported to the SPLC.
eNews Park Forest encourages residents who received such flyers, or others representing hate groups, to contact [email protected].
