Activists Want Police Investigation After Fliers Vowing To 'Get The Blacks Out Of Southfield' Distributed Across City
SOUTHFIELD (WWJ) - Local civil rights groups are demanding a police investigation after racist election fliers were distributed in Southfield.
As many as three different versions of the fliers have been found across the city. One includes pictures of five white political officials, some who are up for election, along with the words "Lets get the blacks out of Southfield in November." Another has a photo of Trayvon Martin -- an unarmed Florida teenager who was killed by a neighborhood watch volunteer -- and the words "Zimmerman was right. We will stop thugs like this." Yet another includes an illustration of a police officer wearing a Klu Klux Klan hood, pointing a gun at the head of a young black boy, who is wearing a hoodie and has candy in his hand.
It's not yet clear who distributed the fliers, which started popping up in the Oakland County suburb over the weekend. Some were found on residents' lawns, while others were actually stuffed in mailboxes.
Although the fliers don't appear to be endorsed by the candidates listed on each, activists are calling for police to investigate whether any campaign laws were broken.
City officials released the following statement about the fliers on Monday:
The City of Southfield is proud to be a diverse community that is inclusive of all people. Southfield elected officials, staff and residents of numerous ethnic and religious backgrounds work effectively together every day to maintain the high quality of life that we have all come to expect and appreciate. No Southfield elected officials or staff condone this type of negative, deconstructive and harmful propaganda that is both unfounded and untrue.
Mayor Donald Fracassi -- who is pictured on one version of the fliers -- went on to say that he's "appalled" that the "reprehensible material" was even distributed.
"Our community is strong, inclusive and celebrates diversity," Fracassi said in a statement. "We stand together unified as Southfielders against racism of any kind. This type of material does not represent Southfield or the views of our residents who live peacefully together in harmony from virtually all walks of life."
According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Southfield's population is 70.3 percent African-American and 29.4 percent white, Hispanic, American Indian or another race.
