More disturbing flyers found, this time in Woodbury. What about ticketing racists for littering?

Mary Divine, Pioneer Press
·2 min read

Authorities in a fourth East Metro suburb have reported racist materials were left on residents’ properties, prompting some to ask what can be done about it.

Woodbury is the latest city where racist flyers were left in plastic baggies filled with corn, presumably to weigh the bags down. The materials were found in the northeast area of the city, Public Safety Director Jason Posel said Friday.

“We don’t believe that anyone was specifically targeted, but that isn’t any comfort to any of our residents who found the materials in their yard,” Posel said. “We are exploring our enforcement options.”

Similar materials have been discovered recently in Stillwater, Lino Lakes and Cottage Grove.

So far, no one has been held responsible, and it’s not clear that anything can be done.

Cottage Grove Police Chief Pete Koerner wrote on Facebook last month that the flyers are “disturbing,” but not illegal. He asked the public’s help in tracking down whoever left the messages.

Stillwater Police Chief Brian Mueller said Friday his officers still are investigating and have not sent anything to the city’s prosecutor for consideration of possible charges.

“There isn’t anything that is jumping out initially on this case as criminal, but we are still investigating,” he said.

In Kenosha, Wis., however, police have found a way to punish those who leave disturbing materials at people’s homes. The department announced last week it had issued $4,301 in fines — in the form of 23 littering tickets at $187 each — to a 56-year-old Kenosha man who left antisemitic material on car windshields, driveways and walkways.

“Technically, the flyer is a form of free speech, protected by First Amendment; however, many members of the Kenosha community had very deep concerns regarding the materials,” Kenosha police said in a news release announcing the littering tickets.

In a Facebook post, Woodury’s Posel condemned the racist propaganda.

“These flyers do not represent what we stand for as a community,” he wrote. “We are taking these actions seriously as it is important to us that all residents feel safe and welcome in our community.”

The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a statement condemning the “despicable attempt to spread hate” in Stillwater.

CAIR Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper said Friday that the group has issued similar statements “on an almost daily basis — not only in Minnesota, but around the country.”

“Unfortunately, we’re seeing a spike of racist-recruitment materials nationwide,” Hooper said. “It’s from a variety of neo-Nazi, racist and white supremacist groups. Sometimes they are unnamed; sometimes they do have contact information.”

“It used to be these kinds of people you’d have to turn over a rock to find them; they hid,” Hooper said. “But now they feel empowered, unfortunately, by political leaders nationwide, and they are running with it.”

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