Canonsburg Residents Wake Up To KKK Recruiting Signs On Vehicles
CANONSBURG (KDKA)- A man was spotted hanging up KKK fliers and leaving them on the windshields of vehicles early Wednesday morning in Washington County.
The fliers were put up along East Pike Street in Canonsburg around 2:30 a.m.
"At first I actually thought it was a ticket. When I opened it up, I was surprised to see it was a recruitment flier for the KKK," one man said.
KDKA's Paul Martino Reports:
The KKK recruitment fliers read:
Take a Stand.
Tired of Drug Filled Streets?
Tired of Rampant Crime?
Tired of Ineffective Police?
Join the Klan, We're Watching You
The fliers also list a website, as well as two out-of-state numbers for a Klan Hotline, which had a message of hate on the other end aimed at Mexican immigrants, referring to them as "invaders."
"Around 2:30 this morning, we understand there were some informational fliers passed out around the east end of our town," Mayor David Rhome said.
The Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights organization, says Klan membership has dwindled dramatically since the early- to mid-1900s. But they estimate there are still as many as 5,000 to 8,000 active Klansman in the United States today.
They say there's some Klansmen in both Beaver Falls and Oil City.
KDKA's Paul Martino Reports:
"They have the right to pass these things out. It's their belief. There's nothing racial in any of these that were passed out. It's just mostly about drug dealing and crime and ineffectiveness of police," Canonsburg Police Chief R.T. Bell said. "I understand we're not the only place that's dealt with this recently."
Earlier this month, similar fliers were posted on Main Street in Emsworth.
Police said the signs aren't illegal, so people in Emsworth took some action of their own and tore them down.
"It's just an unfortunate sign of the times. They're looking for a little publicity and they're getting it," Chief Bell said. "They have their rights, too. As long as they're not inciting people, trying to draw a problem."
KDKA's Heather Abraham Reports:
Police and the mayor say they'll keep an eye on any other activity, but other than littering or other minor violations, no laws were broken.
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