Authorities investigate distribution of Ku Klux Klan flyers in Greene County

Authorities in Greene County are investigating after dozens of hateful Ku Klux Klan flyers have appeared in residents’ yards and driveways, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

“The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides the right to expression, speech and peaceful assembly,” District Attorney David Russo said in a statement. “It does not, however, allow any organization or group to enter the property of private citizens to randomly express themselves.”

The flyers allege they’re from the Loyal White Knights, which are based in North Carolina and one of the largest chapters of the hate group, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

The Southern Poverty Law Center does not list the Loyal White Knights among the 36 hate groups it has identified across Pennsylvania.

Russo the rights of everyone must be acknowledged.

“The private citizens of my county have the right to be free from intrusion in their personal lives and to be secure in their person and property,” he said. “I will assure their rights are protected while recognizing the rights of others.”

Greene County Regional Police Chief Zachary Sams called the flyers shocking, according to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI-TV, and he said hateful rhetoric doesn’t belong in his communities.

“Greene County will not tolerate your presence here,” he told WPXI, speaking directly to those responsible for the flyers. “If you violate any laws whatsoever or target any minority in Greene County, we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”

It’s not the first time in recent years that KKK-related groups have left propaganda throughout the region.

In 2012, flyers urged residents in two Butler County mobile home communities to “Save our land. Join the Klan.” In those instances, the flyers were also inside small bags though they were weighted down with rocks rather than birdseed.

In 2018 in the Eastern part of the state, some residents of Hatboro found bags of candy hearts and KKK pamphlets tossed onto their lawns.

A Klan chapter in Indiana has held several rallies near Dayton, Ohio, over the past year. The first, in May 2019, drained the city of $650,000 in security costs.