CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Fliers allegedly from a Kentucky chapter of the Ku Klux Klan were condemned by Chillicothe City Council members and residents at a meeting on Monday.
Police launched an investigation into the fliers after they were discovered at residences in several neighborhoods on March 17. The fliers contained graphic, racist content and included an address for the Trinity White Knights of the KKK, in Maysville, Kentucky.
City council invited Adrienne D’Souza, president of the Ross County NAACP to address the fliers at a crowded city council meeting.
“We have come too far in the struggle for civil rights in this country to go back to a time where we are not treated equally and treated as second class citizens,” she told the room.
Several residents also spoke out at the meeting with concerns about the fliers.
D’Souza found out about the fliers from social media, and met with police and city leaders to make an action plan.
“You kind of just feel like your hands are tied, the police told us what they can do which is just monitor their activity but people want action and the action is telling those people, ‘they are not welcome here’,” she said.
D’Souza is calling on city council to declare an ordinance to keep hate groups like the KKK out of town.
City Council President Kevin Shoemaker said it is important to let people know hate speech is not welcome in Chillicothe.
“If you don’t confront these kinds of folks it just grows and for a community like this that does not stand for these kind of activity that community leaders need to stand up and say something,” Shoemaker said.
The fliers have also been discussion points at local churches.
Reverand Moses Edwards Jr. at First Baptist Church of Chillicothe said he was shocked and appalled to hear about the fliers. He is new to town.
“We can only fight hate with love and we have to make people aware, make sure we are speaking out against injustice because if we don't we are complicit,” he said.
As for the police investigation, Chillicothe Police are asking anyone with video of people placing the fliers on vehicles or throwing them on the ground, to email crimetips@chillicotheoh.gov.