Kate Fletcher
eSomethin staff
The joyful community-based Winterfest in downtown Perrysburg drew to a close with hateful propaganda littered throughout the streets.
On Sunday, February 23, residents downtown awoke to find Klu Klux Klan flyers scattered in their lawns and in street gutters. These flyers were also found in Bowling Green and Findlay.
The hate group, known most commonly as the KKK, has spread violence, threats, and white supremacist ideals since 1865. Now, 160 years after its founding, the KKK is urging Americans to “protect our homeland” from immigrants.
Flyers spread in recent months throughout Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana from the Trinity White Knights use American war recruitment symbol Uncle Sam to instill a sense of nationalism and to encourage Americans to report immigrants to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and for immigrants to leave the country to avoid detention.
One flyer boasts, “Support Black History, white kids, & turn in your local drug dealer,” with an image of a black man behind bars. The timing of the flyers were dropped during Black History month—a time to pay tribute to those that struggled through adversities such as slavery and discrimination.
Other than littering, the flyers do not violate laws, as hate speech is protected under the First Amendment.
Wood County and the KKK
Perrysburg has a long history with the KKK, as recounted in BGSU professor Dr. Michael E. Brooks’s The Ku Klux Klan in Wood County, Ohio. As of 1920, Perrysburg had 2,429 residents—97 of which were Klan members. However, Wood County did not have a high population of African-Americans or immigrants.
At the height of the KKK’s activity in Wood County in the early 1920s, 95% of people of color lived in the north, which is now Perrysburg, Rossford, and Northwood. Twenty-nine black and biracial residents lived in Perrysburg.
The KKK’s presence in Wood County mainly revolved around patriotism and nationalism, especially following World War I. Nonetheless, racism persisted even among those not involved with the Ku Klux Klan.
On December 5, 1923, the KKK visited Perrysburg High School during a religious service. Chalmer B. Riggle, superintendent and Klan member, greeted the Klansmen as they arrived. Brooks’ suggests Riggle played a role in the arrangement of their visit. The Klan presented an eight-by-twelve-foot American flag and a Bible to the school, according to Brook’s research.
That wasn’t the only visit of the KKK to Perrysburg Schools. In 1928, fifteen Klan members presented a smaller three-by-five foot flag and a Bible to Perry School and led students in prayer.
The Perrysburg Journal and other local news sources often posted anti-immigrant articles, blaming immigrants for the economic downturn and for violating Prohibition. The Wood County Republican posted a headlining editorial on July 12, 1923: “DEPORT THE BAD FOREIGNER,” a sentiment reflected today in the KKK’s flyers spread throughout Ohio.
Though the KKK’s activity in Wood County diminished, racism and hate akin to Klan ideals prevailed through the 2010s. Incidents like arson on the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo in 2012 and several racially-motivated incidents in Bowling Green that sparked the “Not in Our Town” initiative to promote social justice and celebrate diversity.
Even more recently, in February, 2019, a house for sale in Perrysburg was spray painted with racist graffiti after an African-American couple made an offer on it. Alongside the hateful messages: “KKK.”
Brooks wrote that “Perhaps the ‘Not in Our Town’ campaign and other related efforts will further reduce the likelihood that the Ku Klux Klan will ever reemerge in Wood County as a disruptive force in the community.”
The flyers strewn throughout Wood County downtowns raise concerns about a resurgence of the white supremacist hate group.
In times like these, the community comes together; after Perrysburg’s incident in 2019, neighbors came together to start a block watch group on Facebook, and Perrysburg officials organized a rally against racism at the residence. Now, following the flyers, local mayors of Findlay and Bowling Green have released statements that such hate is not welcome here. Perrysburg police are investigating the incident.
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