Bloomington Police Investigating Possible KKK Flyers
Police in Bloomington are investigating what residents say are neighborhood watch fliers claiming to be from the Ku Klux Klan throughout the Indiana city.
The fliers include the image of a hooded figure and say, “Do your part to keep white communities safe and report suspicious activity. You can sleep tonight knowing the Klan is awake.”
In a statement, Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton says hate has no place in Bloomington. He urged residents who find any additional or similar material to report it police.
Indiana Public Broadcasting reporters called the number on the flyer and the voicemail greeting says “You have reached the honorable sacred knights of the Klu Klux Klan.” It asks prospective members to leave their information and directs them to a email address where they can upload proof of identification. The recording also includes racist rhetoric.
UPDATE: The phone number is linked to a lawsuit filed by a man who was injured while protesting the 2017 ‘Unite the Right’ rally in Charlottesville.
Court documents say Bill Burke of Athens, Ohio was among 35 people injured after James Fields Jr. drove his car through a crowd of protestors. One woman died during the attack.
Burke is suing several prominent white nationalists, including David Duke, Richard Spencer and Mathew Heimbach. Heimbach lived in Paoli and founded the Traditionalist Workers Party, which advocated for racially pure nations and communities.
Burke is also suing the Honorable Sacred Knights, which is the organization listed on flyers found in Bloomington.
Court documents say Burke received threatening text messages from the number. In the texts, the Sacred Knight Member appears to believe he is texting Burke’s wife and says “Let him know we are your doctors lawyers police and neighbors . . . we don’t do Jew social media, but we do see. So maybe let him know that he should just back off and stop spreading rumors.”
The court documents don’t tie the phone number to a specific individual.
Burke is seeking a protective order against the Sacred Knights and damages.
The fliers are found in the same city that has temporarily suspended its farmer’s market because of public safety concerns over controversy about a vendor with alleged white supremacist ties. FBI transcripts show Sarah Dye, the owner of Schooner Creek Farm, had conversations with a man convicted of vandalizing a Carmel synagogue with Nazi symbols.
