Ku Klux Klan recruitment flyers left on driveways in Sharon Township, elsewhere
Recruitment flyers for the Ku Klux Klan recently have been distributed to several neighborhoods in Greater Columbus, prompting concern from residents, police and social justice groups.
About 30 homes in a predominantly Black neighborhood in Sharon Township, north of Worthington, awoke Monday to find the flyers inside plastic bags containing rice on their driveways. Homes that had Black Lives Matter messages received a second flyer next to their sign, said township police Sgt. Dan Grant, who suspected the rice was to keep the flyers from blowing away.
"The people I spoke with are very upset that this happened," he said, noting that police patrols will increase in the area.
Reports of similar flyers have been made in Worthington. There were reports of flyers circulating in Lewis Center, but the Delaware County Sheriff's Office said Friday they have not seen any materials from the Ku Klux Klan.
The single-page flyer has the logo of the East Coast Knights of the Ku Klux Klan on a black background, inviting readers to "Stand up. Be Counted. Join the Klan." At the bottom is a picture of dozens of hooded Klan members standing in front of a burning cross.
Sharon Township and Worthington released a joint statement Tuesday, saying the flyers are a "clear attempt to draw people to racist ideas, information and activities."
NACCP Columbus President Nana Watson said she hopes that residents in the neighborhood speak up about the incident and condemn racism.
"The NAACP is very interested in their thoughts on it, what their action plan is to address the KKK and the racism that clearly exists in their community, either hidden or out loud," she said.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations-Ohio, a Muslim advocacy group that covers Columbus and Cincinnati, has condemned the flyers as well.
“The distribution of these hateful flyers represents a despicable attempt to intimidate,” Amina Barhumi, the organization's acting executive director, said. “We condemn this incident and urge law enforcement authorities to be swift and thorough in their investigation.” She said CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia and white supremacy.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: KKK recruitment flyers left on driveways in Sharon Township, elsewhere
